On Tuesday, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, likened the current situation in the Gaza Strip to the blockade of Leningrad during World War II.
The day before, the head of the Russian diplomatic mission, as part of the UN Security Council delegation, visited the Rafah checkpoint, which serves as the entry point for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. During the trip, diplomats engaged with local authorities and personnel from humanitarian organizations. "This visit provided us with a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in the enclave... The humanitarian crisis in the Strip is appalling, and it worsens every day, though it is unimaginable that it could be worse than it is now. From all our conversations, we heard a singular plea: 'There must be a ceasefire; this slaughter must be stopped.' I am reminded of the Nazi blockade of Leningrad during World War II, lasting almost 900 days and claiming the lives of over a million Leningraders due to bombing and starvation," he stated during his address at the UN General Assembly.
"Is Gaza condemned to suffer a similar fate? It is unfathomable that such events are unfolding in our era," he concluded.
Earlier on Tuesday, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution submitted by Egypt and Mauritania, demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. The document received support from 153 states. The resolution essentially echoes the text of the document proposed by the UAE in the UN Security Council last week, which faced rejection due to the US veto. Co-sponsored by several dozen states, including Russia, Belarus, China, Malta, and Portugal, the resolution calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages. Additionally, it emphasizes the necessity for all parties involved in the conflict to adhere to international humanitarian law.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Marius Arnesen/Creative Commons 3.0
Based on materials from TASS