THE Government of Guyana has expressed grave concern about unfolding tragic events in Gaza which are resulting in injury and loss of life to civilians, including women and children and destruction of infrastructure.

In a statement issued on Friday through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government said:
“The Government of Guyana has followed the tragic events unfolding in Gaza and expresses its grave concern over the continuing attacks which are resulting in injury and the loss of life of a growing number of civilians, including women and children, as well as widespread destruction of infrastructure.”
“The Government of Guyana is of the view that the continued indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas will not resolve the long standing and complex issues at stake between Israel and the State of Palestine and calls for an immediate halt to the destruction being inflicted and the toll that is being taken on innocent lives. Guyana firmly believes that it is time for all parties concerned to take urgent steps to ensure the security and well- being of their civilian population.”

“A military solution to the crisis in Gaza or to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should not be a first resort. Peace becomes harder to achieve with each military confrontation, each loss of life, and the creation of further mayhem on the ground. As a member of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and as the first CARICOM country to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state based on its 1967 borders, Guyana supports the Palestinians’ aspiration to the full realisation of their inalienable rights. A negotiated settlement is the best way to give the Palestinian people the state that they need and deserve and the Israeli people the security and peace to which they are entitled.”

“The Government of Guyana supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to bring about a cessation of the current violence and for the international community to act in a decisive manner to forestall an escalation of the present situation.”

“Once again the Government of Guyana implores the Israelis and Palestinians to return to negotiations, to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further civilian casualties and overall destabilisation. We reiterate our call to the international community to intensify efforts to urgently push the peace process forward and for steps to be taken for a two-State solution in accordance with the relevant UN Resolutions.”
According to BBC reports yesterday at least 128 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its operation five days ago.
Two nephews of Hamas ex-PM Ismail Haniyeh were among those killed on Saturday, as Gaza was hit by multiple strikes, Palestinian officials said.
Israel says it has been hit by 43 rockets since Friday, suffering damage.
It has vowed to press on with its campaign until rocket attacks stop.
Israel says it is targeting militants and militant facilities, including the homes of senior operatives. It says “dozens of terrorists” are among those killed.