Switzerland regrets the outcome of the UN Security Council vote
Published: Tuesday, Feb 20th 2024, 18:20
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A draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was vetoed by the USA in the UN Security Council on Tuesday. Switzerland regrets the outcome of the vote, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced on Tuesday evening.
Switzerland supported the resolution, the statement continued. The United Nations Security Council had emphasized that the call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza was in line with the Security Council's collective obligation. Hundreds of thousands of besieged civilians could not be left to starve and suffer epidemics without adequate security guarantees - be it for the provision of humanitarian aid or for their own protection.
During the negotiations on the draft resolution, Switzerland played a key role in ensuring that the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, compliance with international law and the protection of the civilian population were enshrined in the text of the resolution.
On its website, the federal government also called on the parties to the conflict to immediately implement the UN Security Council resolutions adopted in December and November 2023 on the situation on the ground.
The immediate release of the hostages, a humanitarian ceasefire, unhindered access for humanitarian aid to Gaza and full compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights by all parties are urgently required. On this basis, a political dialog should then be worked towards with the goal of a two-state solution.
In addition to an immediate ceasefire, the resolution introduced by Algeria in the UN Security Council would have called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, full compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties and rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in need.
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