The Israel/Palestine conflict has been described by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as heinous and disastrous to common people, since over 4,600 Palestinians have died in ceaseless attacks since October 7.
According to a CARICOM announcement on Friday, hundreds of regular residents have been left with injuries or have been forced to flee their homes due to the conflict. It states that the degree of suffering in the two countries “cannot go unabated” and that the acts of the attackers are intolerable.
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The statement noted, “Ordinary Israeli citizens – men, women and children – were murdered, wounded, abducted and assaulted. Some 200 plus people, including citizens of other states and nationalities, were taken hostage. This is unacceptable.” It further stated, “CARICOM notes that Israel’s response to the attacks has been devastating to ordinary Palestinians in Gaza. Over 4,600 lives have been lost; more than 14000 people have been wounded; and approximately 1.4 million have been displaced. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening daily, with women and children being disproportionately impacted. This unacceptable level of human suffering cannot go unabated.”
The organization calls for a cease of fire by both Palestine and Israel, “CARICOM, therefore, joins the call for an immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties, the opening of humanitarian corridors to facilitate unhindered access to food, medical supplies, fuel, water, and other humanitarian products and services so desperately needed by the affected civilian population.”
Additionally, CARICOM took advantage of the occasion to thank the United Nations officials and its secretary general for their efforts in organizing help for the impacted parties. It also voiced worries that a longer battle in the area would result from the current one if it doesn’t finish soon.
“CARICOM expresses its concern that if the conflict is not immediately brought to an end, it could escalate into a wider regional conflict with significant implications for the stability and welfare not just of that region, but also of the broader international community, with devastating consequences, especially for vulnerable small island states such as those in CARICOM who are already struggling to overcome multi-faceted challenges,” In the statement, parties were urged to take the required actions to restore “peace and stability.”
They concluded, “Let us once and for all acknowledge and accept the utter futility of war, violence, and terror and recognize that dialogue and diplomacy constitute the only viable pathway to a lasting peace.”
