Cuba: U.S. veto of Palestinian membership in UN is unjustifiable

“History will demand responsibility to the government of the United States for its complicity in the injustice against the Palestinian people”, Rodriguez warned while taking the floor at the open debate called by the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The Cuban representative described as an affront to the international community that Palestine retains observer status in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) despite the fact that 140 nations recognize Palestine as a State and the occupying power enjoys membership with full rights.

“Formalizing Palestinian membership is precisely one of the first steps we can and must take to achieve the desired comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Rodriguez added.

The Cuban diplomat called on the United States to put an end to its obstruction of Palestinian accession to the UN and the double standards and selectivity of its government.

Current U.S. administration is constantly creating new devices to guarantee Israel’s impunity and exonerate it of its responsibility for war crimes committed against humanity, which increasingly undermines UNSC´s credibility, she stated.

In her view, UNSC must urgently fulfill its mandate and stop the genocide being committed by Israel.

“It must put an end to the illegal colonizing policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, which have persisted for more than seven decades, she added.

Rodriguez reiterated the demand for an immediate and permanent ceasefire as well as his country’s support for an UNGA-sponsored peace conference to preserve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

At the same time, she called for total and unconditional withdrawal of Israel from the Syrian Golan and all occupied Arab territories as well as the cessation of aggressions over Syria, which violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The deputy minister strongly condemned Israel’s attack on Iran’s diplomatic facilities in Damascus on April 1, in flagrant violation of international law and Syria’s sovereignty.

“These unacceptable actions increase the risk of an escalated conflict in the region, with unpredictable consequences,” she warned.

“Solution to the conflicts in that region cannot be achieved through violence and coercion. Dialogue and diplomacy in favor of peace must prevail,” she insisted.

Commission members said that they have “clear evidence” that war crimes may have been committed in the latest explosion of violence in Israel and Gaza, which began on October 7 and is considered the most serious in decades.

All those who have violated international law and targeted civilians must be held accountable for their crimes, warned the report, which also stressed the need to end the occupation to stop the violence.

Recognizing the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is fundamental to stop the conflict, it added.

“Taking civilian hostages and using civilians as human shields are war crimes,” they stressed.

At the same time, they rejected the complete siege of the Gaza Strip, where water, food, electricity and fuel have been cut off.

This will undoubtedly cost civilian lives, as well as being collective punishment, the text added.

According to the procedures, the Commission must inquire into the events and identify those responsible for violations of international law on all sides and at all levels, both those directly committing international crimes and those in positions of responsibility in the chain of command.

It will share its findings with the relevant judicial authorities, especially the International Criminal Court, where the Office of the Prosecutor has already launched an investigation into the situation in Palestine since 2021, a press release from the United Nations said.

The Commission noted that the only way to end violence and achieve sustainable peace includes addressing the root causes of the conflict, ending the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.