On behalf of the Arab Group, Libya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Taher Al-Sunni, called on the UN Security Council to uphold its responsibilities and put an end to what he described as the “holocaust of the 21st century” in the Gaza Strip. He demanded immediate action to end the Israeli aggression and stop the crimes committed against civilians.
His statement came during the high-level ministerial meeting of the Security Council to discuss “the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.”Al-Sunni detailed the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, noting that the number of martyrs had exceeded 52,000, the majority of whom were women and children, and that approximately 1.9 million Palestinians had been displaced amidst systematic bombing of hospitals, shelters, and infrastructure.
In his speech, Al-Sunni criticized the silence of the international community, stating: “Today, you face a true test. Silence is no longer an option. The time has come for human conscience to awaken from its slumber and for a clear stance to be taken to stop this inferno.”
The Arab Group’s key demands included an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an end to forced displacement and settlement construction, ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid and preventing its use as a tool of war, holding those responsible for war crimes accountable, supporting the Gaza reconstruction plan presented by Egypt and Palestine, recognizing the State of Palestine, and supporting its full membership in the United Nations.
The Group also strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon and Syria, considering them a blatant violation of state sovereignty and a threat to regional security, and demanded the withdrawal of the occupation from all occupied Arab territories.
In concluding his address, Al-Sunni emphasized that Libya and the Arab Group would remain steadfast supporters of Palestinian rights, calling for an end to double standards, the achievement of justice, and the rescue of Gaza from the ongoing catastrophe.