ON the occasion of Guyana’s 54th Republic Anniversary, the country’s Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali, sounded a call, once again, for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Just before midnight on Thursday and mere minutes before the Golden Arrowhead, Guyana’s national flag was hoisted, President Ali, in a stirring address at the Public buildings, affirmed the country’s commitment to assist in maintaining peace in the Caribbean, the Western Hemisphere and the Middle East.

“On our 54th Republic, we make a call, once more, to the world that the atrocities in Gaza must come to an end now. The killing must stop now,” he said.

According to several international news agencies, an armed conflict between Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups and Israeli military forces began on October 7, 2023.

Since then, thousands have been killed and displaced; among these are women and young children.

“The only solution is a ceasefire and for the two countries to move towards a two-state solution. That has always been our fundamental position, and we call on all parties to move in this direction,” he further posited.

He reminded that the small South American nation has been consistent in its position on the Israel/ Palestine conflict, with the country for years advocating for this two-state solution at various international events.

Guyana is also a founding member of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which was established back in 1975.

President Ali had previously bemoaned the division in a global call for a cease-fire.

The Guyanese Head of State, while addressing a regional forum on gender equality and empowerment earlier this month, said it is “unacceptable and heart-wrenching” that women and children are being “slaughtered” in Gaza and “killed” by criminal violence in Haiti and the war in Ukraine.

At the same time, some leaders remain mute on these matters, he had pointed out.

“Our women and children are being slaughtered. Women and girls are being raped, killed through criminal violence in Haiti. And women and girls suffer in the war in Ukraine. Yet some of the most powerful voices in the world lay silently,” he had said.

“I make that point knowing full well that many arrows may be pointed, but knowing full well that I stand on the ground of truth. There cannot be much more hypocrisy in the world.” the president further added while zeroing in on the current crisis in Gaza.

In November, the United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of a resolution for an immediate humanitarian truce between Israel and the Palestinian group, Hamas. Guyana voted in favour of the resolution.