New York — The President of Angola and African Union Chairperson, João Lourenço, warned on Monday (22) in New York that the conflict between Israel and Hamas will not be resolved by resorting to weapons, no matter how sophisticated.
President Louenço stated that “this conflict, which has lasted for decades and has an unusual level of violence, will not be resolved, as all the evidence demonstrates, by resorting to weapons, no matter how sophisticated.”
He therefore urged the international community, “which is increasingly aware of this fact,” to urgently use all means at its disposal to convince the belligerents that the only way out of this situation is through dialogue to achieve solid peace, based on the creation of the State of Palestine and peaceful coexistence between the two peoples.
Speaking at the “High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Matter and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” João Lourenço “unequivocally” condemned the acts of violence perpetrated against Israeli civilians by Hamas and also repudiated Israel’s disproportionate reaction.
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He condemned Israel’s use of fighter jets, tanks, and heavy artillery, emphasizing that these means are not being used against a conventional army, but against the civilian and defenseless Palestinian population, journalists, medical personnel, and employees of the United Nations and humanitarian organizations and agencies, under the pretext of persecuting Hamas.
“Africa, in general, and Angola, in particular, have a firm stance condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and within this principle, we condemn the action that resulted in the death and kidnapping of a large number of people in Israel by Hamas, so we demand their urgent and unconditional release as a step toward creating the path necessary for dialogue,” he said.
The Angolan Statesman also condemned what he considered the instrumentalization of humanitarian assistance as a weapon of war, due to its profoundly inhumane and difficult to justify nature.
He said he was following with deep concern the alarming reports about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where entire communities, including a large number of children, succumb daily to hunger and survive in unhuman conditions.
He added that he looks with great concern the selective acts of war carried out by Israel in several countries in the region, in total disregard for the norms of international law and the principles and values of the United Nations Charter.
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The President emphasized that these acts have no other effect than to lead to a resurgence of tension and instability in the Middle East, by destroying the prospects for resolving the conflict through dialogue and negotiation.
Therefore, he considered it urgent that, in light of this tragedy, a call be made for the immediate suspension of measures that obstruct and undermine the fundamental rights of millions of Palestinians, including the right to life, medical care, and food.
“I would like to welcome this important International Conference, which confirms the commitment of United Nations Member States to the urgent search for a peaceful, fair, and lasting solution to one of the most complex conflicts on the planet and the oldest in the Middle East,” he said.
He made special reference to France and Saudi Arabia, which, according to the Angolan Head of State, have committed themselves very firmly and tirelessly to the implementation of this initiative.
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