Why has Tunisia abstained during the vote of the United Nations General Assembly of the Resolution in favor of a humanitarian break in Gaza? Tunisia Ambassador at the UN, Tarek El Adab explains!
The United Nations General Assembly adopted, this Friday, October 27, 2023, a resolution in favor of a Truce and “the protection of civilians”. The draft resolution, presented by Jordan, was adopted at 120 votes to, 14 against including Israel and the United States and 45 abstentions including Tunisia.
On the sidelines of the voting Tunisia ambassador to the UN, Tarek El Adab said that “the alarming and unprecedented situation in Gaza results from the continuation of the brutal Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people, the imposed blockade and the prohibition of all means of subsistence to the population, which required a clearer position”.
The Tunisian ambassador stressed that this draft resolution “effectively calls for the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza and preventing the forced displacement of the inhabitants, but does not explicitly condemn the war crimes committed by the occupation forces”.
According to him, “the draft resolution does not clearly indicate that the Zionist entity is held responsible for his crimes, and does not clearly indicate a requirement for an immediate cease-fire as he places the victim and the executioner on an equal footing”.
“We have opted for abstention in accordance with the position of principle of Tunisia which rejects the fact that the attacker and attacked on the same equal footing. Tunisia reaffirms its clear and firm condemnation of attacks by the occupation forces against the Palestinians. This is a question of principle and constants of our position. Thus, we do not accept that this is obscured with a resolution during such an exceptional situation, “he added.
Tarek El Adab has called on the international community to assume its responsibilities. He said Tunisia “wants things to be named by their names”. According to him, the acts committed by the Zionist entity cannot be stupid as self -defense, but as war crimes, while the right to self -determination and resistance are considered to be terrorism. “
