NEW YORK: Kuwait has underlined that the Zionist occupation’s war crimes against Palestinians under the pretext of “self-defense” show disregard for the relevant UN resolutions and the international law. The international community must immediately intervene and hold the Zionist occupation accountable for its blatant war crimes and continued violations of international law, said Diplomatic Attache Reem Al-Sharhan, of Kuwait’s Permanent Delegation to the UN, at the UN General Assembly’s First Committee meeting on Disarmament Machinery. She slammed the occupying entity for its “lies and continuous denial of war crimes”.

Sharhan expressed Kuwait’s deep concern about the ongoing escalation in the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 7,700 Palestinian civilians, including more than 3,500 children. She reiterated her country’s respect for international agreements, especially those related to disarmament, international security and peace.

“Despite Kuwait’s commitment, we express our concern due to the lack of tangible progress in terms of disarmament and the implementation of the relevant obligations,” Sharhan regretted. She criticized the

international community’s double standards on disarmament and nonproliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. It is quick to condemn some countries but remains silent towards others, she said.

Kuwait also expressed sincere condemnation of Zionist calls to evict Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to intervene. This came during a speech delivered by Diplomatic Attache of the Kuwaiti delegation to the UN Manar Bashir before the First Committee of the UN General Assembly under the framework of “Establishing a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons in the Middle East”. She also said Kuwait is calling for immediate action towards lifting the siege on Gaza and ensuring safe passage for aid, medical and humanitarian convoys, as aggressive fighting continues without consideration for civilians.

“We extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to the Palestinian people”, especially those innocent casualties of inhumane attacks, Bashir said, accusing the Zionist entity of “flagrant violations committed by these occupying forces, which flout the rules of international humanitarian law under the pretext of self-defense”. As for the discussions of the committee, she said the recent escalation of events witnessed in the Middle East, as violent actions surge, requires the international community to strengthen cooperation and multilateral action towards establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destructions, calling on regional states to comply with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferations of Nuclear Weapons of the 1995 Review Conference.

Bashir added Kuwait stands firm on the issue of international security and peace and nuclear disarmament as well as stressing all nations need to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferations of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Bashir mentioned the country chaired the “Second Session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East”, in line with the determination to end the spread of nuclear weapons. She assured Kuwait will adhere to the necessary measures and procedures to strengthen international cooperation to achieve this goal, advising against the politicization of issues and distortion of facts, in order to focus on tangible progress. – KUNA