ShareGENEVA: Nasser Al-Hayen, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, has warned that the ongoing attacks against UN peacekeeping troops by Zionist forces represent a serious violation of international law. He emphasized that these actions also infringe upon Lebanon’s sovereignty and called for a strong international response. His remarks were made to KUNA at the conclusion of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Last week, Zionist forces attacked UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon at least twice, injuring five peacekeepers. On Thursday, a Zionist strike on Beirut killed 22 people, injured over 100, and caused extensive damage in residential areas. The Zionist entity’s bombardment of Lebanon has killed more than 2,100 people, most of them in the last two weeks. It has also forced 1.2 million people from their homes, officials have reported.
Al-Hayen stressed that it is the responsibility of the UN Security Council and the international community to put an end to these blatant assaults, particularly the recent strikes in Beirut. “Silence about such crimes undermines the credibility of the United Nations,” Al-Hayen warned.
Al-Hayen condemned the occupation’s campaign against UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, labeling him as “persona non-grata,” and criticized the targeting of UN officials who are accurately reporting the dire situation in Gaza. He called for the UN Human Rights Council to adopt more effective and “less politicized” resolutions in future sessions to protect human rights and hold violators accountable, particularly for the severe violations occurring in Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan.
Al-Hayen affirmed Kuwait’s commitment to maintaining the relief air bridge to Gaza, Sudan, and other war-torn areas, following directives from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. He highlighted Kuwait’s diplomatic efforts to stop the Zionist entity’s genocide in Gaza and the entity’s attacks on Lebanon.
On the sidelines of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Al-Hayen met with various international leaders, including the Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk, the Chairperson of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. These meetings were part of Kuwait’s diplomatic efforts, in coordination with the Arab Group and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, to enhance global cooperation in addressing humanitarian crises.
During the session, which began on September 9, 2024, The UN Human Rights Council adopted several resolutions aimed at promoting human rights in Yemen, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic, as well as resolutions condemning racial discrimination. The council also renewed the mandate for an international fact-finding mission in Sudan and extended terms for several human rights experts, including those focused on Afghanistan. Additionally, Mazna Al-Omair from Saudi Arabia was elected to the council’s consultative commission, representing Asia and the Pacific.
Established in 2006 by a UN General Assembly resolution, the council has 47 member states, each elected for a three-year term. Decisions are made by consensus or vote, and no member state has veto power. Kuwait’s term on the council will end in January 2026. — KUNA
