The immediate priority in Gaza must be saving civilian lives said the President of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, as Member States gathered to debate the use of the veto by the United States in the Security Council last month.
Assembly Vice President Cheikh Niang of Senegal, holding the gavel in the General Assembly Hall and deputizing for President Dennis Francis, read out a statement on his behalf.
Mr. Francis said he welcomed the adoption of Security Council resolution 2720 late last month, which called for safe, unhindered and expanded humanitarian access and conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.
He urged all warring parties in Gaza to “fully implement” the Council resolution as well as the Assembly resolution of 12 December calling for a ceasefire, arising from the Assembly’s reconvened Emergency Special Session.
On protecting civilians, Mr. Francis urged all Member States “to keep this shared goal to the forefrontduring today’s debate.”
The General Assembly adopted a resolution designed to foster greater cooperation with the Security Council, in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
That resolution states that anytime the veto is used in the Security Council, it automatically triggers a meeting and debate in the General Assembly, to scrutinize and discuss the move. Läs pressmeddelande