Pakistan has appealed to the United Nations to revisit Palestine's application for membership, which was blocked by the United States in April.
Munir Akram, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized the need for the UN to reconsider Palestine's bid to address the historical injustices endured by the Palestinian people. "Palestine's rightful aspiration to attain full membership in the UN should not be denied, as it fulfills all necessary criteria," stated Akram in a statement.
Highlighting the potential for diplomatic progress in the Middle East, Akram asserted that admitting Palestine to the world organization would significantly bolster efforts for peace in the region.
Additionally, Akram called upon the UN and the international community to prioritize an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensure unhindered access to humanitarian aid for civilians, prevent further escalation of the conflict, resume the peace process, and hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In April, the US exercised its veto power in the UN Security Council to block a draft resolution presented by Algeria, aimed at granting full membership to Palestine in the UN. Despite the US opposition, 12 Security Council members, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the resolution, while Switzerland and Britain abstained.
Currently, Palestine holds a permanent observer status in the UN. The process for admitting a country to UN membership involves a recommendation from the Security Council, followed by approval from the General Assembly. A recommendation requires support from at least nine of the 15 Security Council members, with no veto from any of the five permanent members. Subsequently, the General Assembly votes on the application, requiring a two-thirds majority for approval.
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Based on materials from TASS