News

CWN - The United Nations Human Rights Council met on July 23 to discuss the human rights situation in Gaza.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Holy See’s permanent representative to UN offices based in Geneva, deplored the killing of civilians in the Gaza-Israel conflict and called for an immediate ceasefire.

“The perpetration of injustices and the violation of human rights, especially the right to life and to live in peace and security, sow fresh seeds of hatred and resentment,” he said. “The United Nations estimates that approximately 70% of Palestinians killed have been innocent civilians. This is just as intolerable as the rockets missiles directed indiscriminately toward civilian targets in Israel … Demonizing others, however, does not eliminate their rights.”

Quoting Pope Francis, Archbishop Tomasi said that “the time has come for everyone to find the courage to be generous and creative in the service of the common good, the courage to forge a peace which rests on the acknowledgment by all of the right of two states to exist and to live in peace and security within internationally recognized borders.”

Archbishop Tomasi added that “the legitimate aspiration to security, on one side, and to decent living conditions, on the other, with access to the normal means of existence like medicines, water and jobs, for example, reflects a fundamental human right, without which peace is very difficult to preserve.”

“The Delegation of the Holy See reiterates its view that violence never pays,” he continued. “To combat violence and its detrimental consequences we must avoid becoming accustomed to killing. At a time where brutality is common and human rights violations are ubiquitous, we must not become indifferent.”