Havana, January 11 (RHC)-- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates its deep concern over the continued escalation of violence by Israel in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories, in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including numerous UN resolutions.
 
The Ministry once again strongly condemns the killing of civilians, especially women, children and UN humanitarian workers, as well as the indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian civilians and the destruction of homes, hospitals and civilian infrastructure.
 
Israel continues to act with total impunity because it enjoys the complicit protection of the United States, which repeatedly obstructs and vetoes the action of the Security Council, undermining peace, security and stability in the Middle East and globally. 

The Republic of Cuba has been a State Party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide since 1953 and, in accordance with the commitments undertaken in that framework, has the obligation to prevent and punish genocide. 
 
In this context, it expresses its support for the request of the Republic of South Africa to initiate proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice in relation to violations by that country of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
 
This proceeding before the principal organ of justice of the United Nations should be understood and heeded as an urgent call to stop the horrific international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and apartheid being committed against the Palestinian people. 

In spite of repeated calls for peace in the illegally occupied territories, for 75 years a crime of genocide has been clearly being committed, which is now taking on extreme proportions and requires the joint action of the peoples and governments of the world to put an immediate stop to the indiscriminate extermination of girls, boys, women and the civilian population in general. 
 
Havana, January 11, 2024

(Cubaminrex)