Gaza - Saba:
Dutch rapporteur to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Saskia Kluit, described Israel’s actions in Gaza on Friday as "genocide and ethnic cleansing."
In a statement, she emphasized that the ongoing massacre in Gaza is a man-made tragedy, noting that the situation in the region has deteriorated beyond expectations.
Kluit pointed out that "the blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza has been imposed since March 2, and Israel has resumed its large-scale aggression against Gaza. The first victims of this systematic violence are children, who are deprived of food, water, medical care, and safe shelter, with their right to life violated."
She stated that "the minimal amount of aid allowed into Gaza by the Israeli government has been insufficient to feed the population and has not reached the most vulnerable groups. Children are dying of starvation," stressing the need for humanitarian aid to be delivered unconditionally and in adequate quantities.
Kluit called on Israel to "end its killing operations against the people of Gaza," comply with its obligations under international law, and ensure immediate, independent, unrestricted, and neutral access for humanitarian organizations—such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)—to the region, as well as guarantee sufficient aid reaches Gaza.
She noted that "plans to deprive Gaza’s children of their right to return to their homeland and to forcibly displace Gaza’s population must be canceled immediately."
Kluit urged the international community to fulfill its legal obligations under the Geneva Conventions, including the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, calling on Council of Europe member states to do everything in their power to ensure a ceasefire in Gaza and respect for international law.
The Dutch rapporteur stressed the necessity of protecting and treating civilians in Gaza in a manner consistent with human dignity.
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