Fiji has voted against the UN resolution calling for truce between Israel and Hamas and condemning all violence against Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction.
The UN resolution calls for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.
It has expressed strong support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and for his calls for the immediate and unrestricted access of humanitarian aid to respond to the most basic needs of the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, underlining the Secretary-General’s message that food, water, medicine and fuel need to be sustained and at scale, and expressing its appreciation for the critical role played by Egypt in this regard.
It has also expresseed strong support for all regional and international efforts aimed at achieving an immediate cessation of hostilities, ensuring the protection of civilians and providing humanitarian aid.
The resolution also stresses the particularly grave impact that armed conflict has on women and children, including as refugees and displaced persons, as well as on other civilians who may have specific vulnerabilities, including persons with disabilities and older persons.
The United States, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Guatemala, Hungary, Israel, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga also voted against the resolution.
We have sent questions to the Office of the Prime Minister as well as the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lenora Qereqeretabua. They are yet to respond.
