Ambassador Đặng Hoàng Giang, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations, addresses the open debate on the Middle East situation with a focus on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement at the UN General Assembly on October 24. — VNA/VNS Photo

NEW YORK — Ambassador Đặng Hoàng Giang, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations (UN), has condemned all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, saying that Việt Nam is deeply concerned about the current tense situation in the Middle East, especially losses to civilians.

Speaking at an open debate on the Middle East situation with a focus on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement at the UN General Assembly on October 24, the Ambassador called on all sides to immediately cease fire, exercise maximum restraint, respect international humanitarian law and apply all necessary measures to protect people's lives, including ensuring the safety of and immediate release of all hostages, minimising damage to essential civilian infrastructure in line with the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2573.

The Vietnamese diplomat called on the international community, especially all relevant parties, to create favourable conditions to end the fighting, resume dialogue and negotiations, allow humanitarian access and deploy timely and unhindered humanitarian relief operations to reach people in need of assistance, while ensuring the safety of humanitarian aid workers.

Giang expressed his support for mediation efforts of the UN, UN member countries as well as international and regional organisations, emphasising that in the long term, it is necessary to stop activities that incite more violence and hatred between the two sides, stop the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, the destruction of homes and the expulsion of Palestinians, and respect the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.

The Vietnamese representative proposed resuming activities of the Middle East Quartet, urged parties to return to negotiations to resolve the root causes, aiming to achieve a two-state solution in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including the establishment of a Palestine state with East Jerusalem as its capital, peacefully coexisting alongside the state of Israel, with internationally recognised borders based on pre-1967 borders. He also called on the UN and UNSC to strive for a unified and constructive message, helping to promote efforts to reduce tensions, end fighting, protect civilians and support the resumption of dialogue and negotiations.

At the open debates, many countries expressed concern about increasing tension and the risk of it spreading to the region, protested against attacks causing large casualties for civilians, and serious humanitarian situations as the Gaza Strip was completely locked down without electricity, water, medicine and other necessities for days. Most countries called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, allowing the transport of essential aid from outside into the Gaza Strip.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, protecting civilians and civil works. — VNS