UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan denounced Israel’s “deliberate” targeting of hospitals, medical personnel, patients and the wounded as Israeli military forces press on with their war in Gaza, and called for “Independent and transparent” investigations into its attacks on health infrastructure and other war crimes.
“Impunity must end,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, alternate permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council which met in emergency session on the collapse of health services in besieged Strip.
In this regard, he underscored the need for ensuring that perpetrators are held to account.
Friday’s meeting was called by Algeria, the leading voice for the Arab world on the Council which has just taken the gavel as president for the month of January. Senior official from the World Health Organization (WHO) Rik Peeperkorn briefed ambassadors alongside High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan with the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), also poke, sharing the perspectives of healthcare workers
In his remarks, the Pakistan envoy said that the deliberate targeting of hospitals, medical personnel, patients and the wounded defies every principle of international humanitarian law and has no justification whatsoever.
“Not just condemnation, there must be accountability for these crimes,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said, delivering Pakistan’s first statement in the 15-member Council as the country took its seat on the world’s body’s power centre as non-permanent member on January 1.
