On Thursday, Algeria urged the immediate enforcement of the UN Security Council resolution that calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, aiming to initiate a vaccination campaign against polio. This disease has been detected in the Palestinian enclave following the destruction of health infrastructure by Zionist forces.
“Algeria insists on the urgent and total implementation of the Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2735, which pertains to a ceasefire in Gaza, in order to address the looming threat of polio,” stated Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Amar Bendjama.
He noted that the casualties resulting from Zionist aggression in Gaza “are likely to escalate rapidly not only due to the deteriorating situation but also because of the imminent risk of a polio outbreak.” These remarks were made during the monthly UN Security Council meeting focused on “the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.”
“With the healthcare system in Gaza having collapsed as a direct result of Israeli forces deliberately targeting hospitals and medical personnel, the threat of polio has become a grim reality. Currently, 20 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are non-operational, making an effective response to this threat nearly impossible,” he emphasized.
“How can we imagine launching a vaccination campaign in Gaza while Israeli bombardments continue unabated? It is clear to all that what is termed the de-escalation mechanism is merely an illusion in Gaza. What is urgently needed is a genuine cessation of hostilities to ensure the success of this campaign,” he argued. “We echo the calls made by WHO and UNICEF for a humanitarian pause to facilitate this vaccination effort,” he added.
Expressing concern over the lack of progress in halting Zionist aggression in Gaza, Algeria’s representative reiterated the clarity of Security Council resolution 2735. “It guarantees a definitive end to hostilities, the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces from Gaza, and the release of all prisoners. This resolution must be implemented immediately,” he insisted.
The “barbaric” Zionist occupation continues unchecked, resulting in the deaths of Palestinians and transforming Gaza into a nightmarish and unlivable place. The situation is catastrophic, worsening daily with no signs of hope, he lamented.
Despite mediation efforts from countries such as Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, he observed, “the occupying power continues to disregard the appeals of the international community,” noting that the Zionist has shown no respect for either Security Council resolutions or International Court of Justice rulings concerning the situation in Gaza.
“As the Middle East faces the risk of ignition, we remain convinced that a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is the only solution to prevent further escalation,” Mr. Bendjama asserted.
He also pointed out that the Zionist entity is determined to “extinguish any hope for the establishment of a Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital.”
The Zionist entity “rejects the creation of a Palestinian state, appropriates Palestinian lands, expands settlements, and periodically storms the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It allows terrorist settlers to invade the West Bank, committing acts of pillage and violence against Palestinians with impunity,” he highlighted. “The risk that the tragedy in Gaza will spill over into the West Bank is very real,” he warned.
“The time has come to bring an end to the carnage in Gaza; it is time to close this dark chapter in the history of the Middle East, as well as in the annals of the international community and the Security Council,” he stated.
Last Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a “humanitarian pause” in Gaza to facilitate a vaccination campaign against polio in the Palestinian enclave.
Polio has been detected in wastewater in the governorates of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis in Gaza, Hamid Jafari, a polio specialist with the WHO, noted during a press conference earlier this month. He added that it is possible the virus may have been circulating since September.
