The government of Kenya on Thursday condemned the humanitarian atrocities committed in the Middle East following the political tensions that have rocked the region leading to loss of lives.
Ambassador Ekitila Lokaale, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York speaking at the United Nations General Assembly 10th Emergency Special Session on the situation in Middle East on Thursday stated that Kenya was in support of Palestinian self-determination and called for a ceasefire between the warring states in the Middle East.
The envoy relayed that Kenya was equally concerned by the humanitarian crisis currently being witnessed into the region which continues to experience conflict.
Amb. Lokaale further condemned all acts of terrorism including the horrific October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians.
The ambassador further faulted the collective punishment of Palestinians including the most vulnerable women, children and the sick, and obliterated destruction of essential civilian infrastructure by Israeli forces.
‘’Condemned all acts of terrorism regardless of the perpetrators or motivation, including the horrific October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. Decried collective punishment of Palestinians including the most vulnerable women, children and the sick, and obliterated destruction of essential civilian infrastructure by Israeli forces,’’ Lokaale shared in a post.
“Warned that the United Nations inaction jeopardizes its credibility as the guarantor of international peace and security,” the envoy added.
This comes in the wake of recent attacks where walkie-talkies and solar equipment exploded in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon on Wednesday leaving at least 20 fatalities and more than 450 people wounded, according to information from Lebanon authorities.
The attacks that were believed to have been carried out by Israel allied forces targeting Hezbollah ended up targeting innocent civilians with children and women also falling as casualties.
Kenya, whose foreign policy had in the past avoided the conflict in the Middle East, was subject of discussions following President William Ruto’s comment on Iran’s decision to launch missiles on Israel earlier this year.
On April 14 2024, Ruto condemned Iran’s decision to launch missiles on Israel terming the attacks as a disturbing development that was likely to aggravate the conflict in the Middle East.
“Kenya is deeply concerned by Iran’s attack on the State of Israel. This disturbing development only serves to aggravate an already delicate situation in the Middle East,” Ruto stated in a statement.
