Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 9th Feb. UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu on Friday expressed profound horror at the ongoing situation in the Middle East, reiterated the call for a humanitarian ceasefire and protection of civilians.
Alice Wairimu Nderitu underscored the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to bring the crisis to an end.
She said in a statememt “Civilians should never pay the price of a conflict for which they bear no responsibility.”
“Their most basic rights must be protected and preserved and their humanitarian needs must be met,” she added.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on 7 October, when Hamas and other Palestinian militants groups attacked southern Israel, left 1,200 Israelis dead and took 250 people hostage.
Israel began military operation in the Gaza Strip, which have killed 27,840 Palestinians and over 67,300 injured, according to the local health authority.
Over 1.7 million Gazans have been displaced, and Gaza has suffered massive destruction of houses, schools, hospitals and other vital infrastructure.
She called on all relevant actors to strengthen their resolve to find an end to the conflict.
Alice Wairimu Nderitunoted that this requires firs to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructures in accordance with international law.
She called for the safe return of all hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza as well as investigating acts of sexual violence reportedly committed in the context of the 7 October attacks and their aftermath.
The statement referred to the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice in the case brought forward by South Africa against Israel on prevention of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Ms. Nderitu noted that neither the UN Secretary-General nor herself, as his Special Adviser, “take a position” in relation to ongoing judicial proceedings before the Court.
ICJ ordered Israel, inter alia in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, “to take all measures within its power” to prevent the commission of acts within the scope of Article II of the Convention, including killing, caused serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s destruction, and imposing measures intended to prevent births.
The Court ordered Israel to “ensure with immediate effect that its military forces do not commit any of the above-described acts”.
Ms. Alice Wairimu Nderitu echoed Mr. Guterres concern over the spillover effects of the war in Gaza in the West Bank and the wider Middle East region.
She reiterated concern over the impact of conflict across the world.
Top adviser urged that efforts be put in place for communities to co-exist peacefully and for all grievances to be addressed constructively and peacefully.
“Inflammatory remarks, dehumanizing rhetoric and hate speech can only contribute to ignite further violence and reduce the space for ending the conflict,” Ms. Nderitu said.
“Political leaders have a special responsibility to refrain from using such hateful narratives and implement all possible measures to defuse ongoing tensions,” she added.
