Leader of the opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar thinks that Trinidad and Tobago need to utilize its UN standing to demand a stop to the current hostilities between Israel and Palestine.
About 1,200 Israeli people were killed in an attack led by Hamas on October 7. Persad-Bissessar denounced the attack in a communiqué on February 5 and stated that there was no justification or defense for it.
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However, she drew attention to the increasing extent of the devastation caused by Israel’s reaction in Gaza and called the death of people who were not part of the strike an outrage.
The opposition leader noted, “The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 27,365 deaths, while 66,630 others were wounded, as of February 4th, 2024. It is estimated that 70 percent of these deaths were women and children. The Israeli military action has left 85 percent of Gaza’s population internally displaced with shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.”
She added, “The massive death toll and extensive destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals, houses, schools, along with crops, electricity, and water supplies, are unacceptable and must be protested by every democratic society.”
According to Persad-Bissessar, T&T’s government has to use its present UNGA leadership to spark talks aimed at putting a stop to the genocide against Gaza residents.
“The bombardment and siege of Gaza are grossly unacceptable to all of humanity, and T&T has an important responsibility to be proactive and vigilant. Even though T&T is a small island state, a resolute approach in collaboration with international partners and Mr. Francis’ leadership at the UN could stir further international action and possibly result in an end to the military activity.”
On June 1, Dennis Francis, a seasoned diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago, was chosen to lead the 78th UN General Assembly. September 2023–September 2024 is his term of office.
The opposition leader calls for peace between both nations to end the bloodshed of innocent lives, “The egregious breach of humanitarian laws and slaughter of innocent lives must be stopped. We must do our best to assist in bringing an end to the catastrophe and the unbearable pain and trauma. Both Israelis and Palestinians deserve the right to live and thrive in peace in their own states, there are no winners in this regrettable conflict.”
Caricom released a statement demanding an end to the violence two days after the unrest in the area started. “Caricom thus joins the responsible members of the international community in calling for an immediate ceasefire and end of hostilities by all parties,” it statement noted.
Additionally, it supported Resolution 242 of the UN Stability Council and continued attempts to find a two-state solution as the greatest means of bringing about security and peace in the area. Wikipedia states that Resolution 242, which does not specify the exact scope of the withdrawal, demands the Israeli armed troops to be removed from areas they occupied during the 1967 conflict.
Therefore, complete withdrawal is not mandated nor prohibited by the resolution. Following the Six-Day War, on November 22, 1967, the Security Council unanimously enacted Resolution 242.
The Israeli ambassador to T&T, Itai Bar-Dov, expressed his dissatisfaction with the comment in an interview with WESN’s Ketan Singh, however, and did not take kindly to it. “We cannot (accept) this comparison of both sides. Would Caricom allow any Caribbean nation to be threatened by such an entity which any minute can come and slaughter hundreds of thousands of its population? How can you speak about ‘both sides’?”
“We are a democratic state. We are for peace, we gave up vast pieces of land (to other Middle Eastern states) for the sake of peace.”
He stated, “This comparison of the two sides has to end. It has to end. There is no comparison between a democratic peace-loving, sovereign state and a terrorist organization, whether it is ISIS or Hamas. That comparison is just ludicrous and that statement (by Caricom) was very disappointing.”
Similar to Persad-Bissessar, Independent Senator Anthony Vieira voiced concerns in November over what he perceived to be Israel’s overuse of force in self-defense following a Hamas attack.
Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and Caribbean Affairs, responded by saying that the government denounced the mass murders occurring on all sides of the fight.
He also concurred with Vieira’s assertion that a major role for the UN in resolving the issue was necessary. After attempting to get in touch with Browne.
