…says innocent lives being lost amid fervour, violence of actual combatants
The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has called for ceasefire in the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict, in which fresh fighting has broken out, that has claimed over 1000 lives on both sides of the border.
In a statement on Monday, Caricom condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel, as well as Israel’s counter attacks on Palestinian territory in Gaza. The attacks and counter attacks were described by Caricom as “the antithesis of civilised life and living.”
“Innocent lives are being lost amidst the fervour and violence of the actual combatants. Caricom thus joins the responsible members of the international community in calling for an immediate ceasefire and end of hostilities by all parties,” Caricom said.
“The recent round of hostilities reflects the pain and suffering of ancient quarrels. The ongoing harsh conditions under which the Palestinians live in veritable colonialism and Israel’s sense of insecurity will contribute to a cycle of violence until those realities are definitively addressed.”
Further, Caricom threw its support behind the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 242. Resolution 242 was adopted in 1967 and it calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the occupied territories.
Additionally, it acknowledges the claim of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the region, while calling on the UN Secretary General to appoint an envoy to facilitate an acceptable solution to the conflict.
“Accordingly, Caricom continues to support the United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 and the ongoing efforts of the United Nations towards a two-state solution as the best way to achieve comprehensive peace, security and tranquillity between Israel and Palestine,” Caricom said in their statement.
Reuters reported that Israeli military said on Monday it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, in a sign it may be planning a ground assault in response to the devastating weekend attack by Hamas gunmen.
After hours of intense bombardment by Israeli jets, Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls Gaza, said it would execute an Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning.
According to Reuters inside Israel, Palestinian fighters were still holed up in several locations, two days after they killed hundreds of Israelis and seized dozens of hostages in a raid that shattered Israel’s reputation of invincibility.
Reuters also reported that Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900, with at least 2600 injured. Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed and 3726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.
The dead, Reuters stated, included citizens of Italy, Ukraine and the United States, where President Joe Biden announced on Monday that at least 11 Americans had been killed.
Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida said the group had been acting in accordance with Islam by keeping the Israeli captives safe but issued the threat to kill civilians and broadcast it, the Reuters report stated.
According to Reuters, echoing Hamas, the Islamic Jihad armed wing, which said it was holding more than 30 Israelis, asked Israel to refrain from hitting civilians if it cared about the fate of Israelis in its custody.
The violence between Israel and Palestine this year flared up in January, when Gaza militants fired rockets after an Israeli raid in the West Bank. Israel responded with air strikes. A ceasefire that took effect in May ended and in September, and Israel attacked Hamas in a series of drone strikes after their troops were fired on.
