Palestinian ambassador to UN in Geneva says immediate cease-fire must be 'first goal'

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) – The Palestinian ambassador to the UN in Geneva said Thursday that an immediate cease-fire must be "the first goal for all of us" amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Expressing his frustration over the "lack of wise leaders" to find a peaceful solution to global challenges, particularly in the Middle East, Ibrahim Khraishi urged the international community to "uphold their obligations under international law."

Khraishi's remarks came during a briefing at the UN office in Geneva with members of the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the UN (ACANU).

Underlining that silence against "Israel's grave breaches" is viewed as a "green light," he said the international community must take immediate actions.

Those actions include, he said, calling for an immediate cease-fire, ensuring immediate emergency humanitarian access and assistance, restoring basic human necessities in Gaza, condemning Israel’s attacks against Palestinian civilians and civilian infrastructure and condemning the total siege of Gaza as well as Israel's actions and remarks "amounting to ethnic cleansing" and "incitement to genocide."

He also urged states to impose a two-way arms embargo on Israel and end "impunity for Israel’s violations of international law."

- European leaders 'didn't mention' cease-fire

Responding to a question from Anadolu, the ambassador lamented the lack of calls for a cease-fire from European countries.

"I'm sorry to listen the European leaders' statements last Saturday at the Cairo peace conference and last Tuesday in the (UN) Security Council," Khraishi said. "They didn't mention that (cease-fire)."

"They are encouraging and announcing that Israel has the right to defend itself," he said, adding that "Israel has no right as an occupying power" according to international law.

- Palestine wants hostages of both sides to be released 'soon'

"I'm in favor of releasing all civilians, all prisoners from both sides," Khraishi said, noting that Palestine is not happy with the situation either.

"We want them to be released soon, tomorrow, if there is any mediation," he said.

Responding to a question on Switzerland's recent decision to consider Hamas a terrorist group, the ambassador said: "Hamas is not a terrorist organization for us at all. And we are in disagreement politically with Hamas, but they are part of the Palestinian society."

"I think the right thing should be for Switzerland and the other countries to put (Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel) Smotrich, (National Security Minister Itamar) Ben-Gvir and (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu on the terrorist list and (recognize) Israel as an occupying power," he said.

Khraishi said he asked UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to check the list of Israeli victims.

"We don't trust them," he said of the Israeli authorities, adding the Palestinian side provides names, addresses and ages of the victims.

- Conflict

The conflict in Gaza began Oct. 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

More than 8,400 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.