Ambassador of Palestine to the UN Ibrahim Khraishi attends a session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, March 18, 2019. (Credit: Denis Balibouse/Reuters)
A Palestinian envoy on Friday
criticized Western states for supporting Ukraine by calling out
Russia's violations of international law while stopping short of
naming what he said were breaches by Israel against Palestinians
in Gaza.
Palestinian ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ibrahim Khraishi was speaking alongside more than 40 ambassadors to observe a minute of silence for thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza since the start of Israeli bombardments more than a month ago.
"There are a plethora of international laws that can be applied. They are applied fully when it comes to Ukraine. When it comes to us they are put aside, they're violated, they're not used, they're belittled," he told a gathering of diplomats and reporters.
He mentioned European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen's allegations last year that Russia's attacks on civilian infrastructure, including electricity, in Ukraine were war crimes.
In Gaza, where electricity has been cut off since Oct. 11 as part of Israel's tightened siege and more than 11,000 civilians have died, Western leaders including those from the European Union have tended to use softer language and defended Israel's right to attack Hamas, while calling for efforts to limit civilian casualties.
There was no immediate comment from EU Commission spokespeople.
Most of the ambassadors who took part in the minute of silence on stage were from the Middle East, Asian and African countries. No Western countries joined, although the Dutch ambassador stood on the sidelines.
In the same speech, Khraishi asked democracies for more support for a ceasefire, and to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, saying humanitarian aid was not enough.
"I should like to address myself to those who call themselves the free world. You have to do your utmost to stop the bloodshed and to reach a ceasefire," he added. "You have to work with us in order to attack the crux of the problem, meaning ending the occupation."
Countries are considering calling a special session of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to debate the Gaza crisis, he said.
criticized Western states for supporting Ukraine by calling out
Russia's violations of international law while stopping short of
naming what he said were breaches by Israel against Palestinians
in Gaza.
Palestinian ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ibrahim
Khraishi was speaking alongside more than 40 ambassadors to
observe a minute of...