VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has urged concerned parties to the conflict in the Gaza Strip to immediately cease fire and refrain from violence against civilians and resume peace negotiations.

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations made the appeal at a July 22 open debate of the UN Security Council on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” in New York.

Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations was also invited to attend and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon participated in the event via a telephone conservation from the West Bank.

The Palestinian representative called on the UN Security Council to pass a resolution demanding a truce between Israel and the Islamic militants of Hamas forces. Mansour stressed that the Security Council should take actions to stop the killing of innocent people and bring Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also warned that the violence in the Gaza Strip has amounted to an alarm level, adding that his discussions with leaders from concerned parties focused on a truce, dialogues and how to get the root of the problem.

At the meeting, countries urged Palestine and Israel to cease fire immediately to open doors for negotiations and avoid causing more civilian casualties.

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung said that Vietnam is very concerned about the escalating violence in Gaza which have caused civilian casualties are not acceptable.

“Vietnam calls on the international community, especially the Security Council and the Quartet Group which sponsored Middle East peace process to exert greater efforts to achieve a truce, resolve the current political crisis, and promote humanitarian aid operations in Gaza.” Trung said.

Ambassador Trung said that violence has been and will continue taking place in the region if no solution for peace and justice is given to the problem of Palestine which has last for seven decades as well as the wider crisis in the Middle East.

Vietnam supports efforts towards a peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on UN Security Council resolutions, the Madrid consultation terms including the land for peace principle, the Arab Peace Initiative (API), the Quartet roadmap to achieve a comprehensive solution for ensuring the interests of all parties, Trung noted.

Source: VOV