.jpg)
The minister said that negotiation is the only viable means to bring a mutually satisfying end to the conflict that exists between these two countries. She noted that this offensive has resulted in injury and loss of life to more than 160 Palestinians, and the destruction of infrastructure and loss of services throughout Gaza.
According to the minister, the Government of Guyana issued a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire.
“That statement expressed the Government of Guyana’s grave concern over the continued military air strikes, and called on Israel to end immediately its offensive and to ease the suffering of the affected populations,” she said.
She added that Guyana has also expressed its concern about rockets being fired into Israeli territory, which reports now indicate resulted in the deaths of approximately 5 Israelis.
She invited the house to condemn in the strongest possible terms the perpetration of violence and the killing of innocent persons.
“As the occupying power, Israel must reach its obligations under international law to protect the people and territory under its control. Civilians both in Palestine and Israel are entitled to protection under the international humanitarian law. Guyana strongly supports the appeal made by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, which states: ‘To all those commanding, bearing and operating arms to respect international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of civilians at all times’.”
The minister further stated that this wave of violence between Israel and Palestine has come against the backdrop of a recent initiative by the Palestinians to seek observer status at the United Nations.
She said that the Palestinian people continue to struggle for the full exercise of their inalienable human rights, including their right to self-determination and an independent homeland. In this struggle, she said, they have found in Guyana a constant companion.
According to her, Guyana was among the earliest members from the hemisphere to join the Committee on the exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which was established in 1975, as well as the first Caricom country to recognise Palestine as a state, on January 13, 2011.
In addition, she noted that Guyana also has friendly and corporate relations with the state of Israel.
“Now more than ever, it is crucial to return to negotiations to realise the two-state solution necessary to achieve the goal of a secure Israel at peace with an independent Palestine, free from occupation,” the minister noted.
Rodrigues-Birkett added that Guyana therefore welcomes the ceasefire that was announced on Wednesday, and hopes that this would provide a window of opportunity for renewable diplomatic efforts aimed at finding mutually satisfactory and sustainable solutions for peace in the Middle East.
She said that Guyana would continue to support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General and the international community towards this end.
“I invite this honourable house to join in the renewal of our solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for self determination, and in the expression of the hope that the peoples of Palestine and Israel will soon be able to live in peace and dignity within secure and internationally recognised borders,” she told the National Assembly.
She also urged the house to reiterate Guyana’s support for the efforts of the international community to secure an end to this conflict for just and lasting peace in the Middle East region.
