New York:Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments labeling diplomats who left his United Nations General Assembly speech as 'moral cowards.' She argued that such a description better fits leaders who avoid negotiating for peace or block humanitarian aid.
According to Palestine news and Information Agency, Gunnarsdottir, speaking at the UN General Assembly, criticized global leaders who fail to pursue just and lasting peace, hinder humanitarian assistance, or violate international law.
She highlighted the importance of not allowing the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to overshadow other global crises.
Focusing on Palestine, Gunnarsdottir emphasized that the hardships faced by Palestinian civilians should not be ignored. She mentioned the ongoing killing of children, families being displaced, and the struggles of parents to ensure their children's survival.
She also addressed the cycle of destruction and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, noting the failure to tackle the underlying issues.
Regarding the occupied West Bank, Gunnarsdottir pointed to the continuous expansion of settlements and violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers, which is often met with impunity and encouraged by inflammatory rhetoric and policies.