Syria rejected on Thursday, the Israeli “pretexts” used to justify its repeated “crimes and acts of aggression on Syrian territory” aimed at undermining Syria’s security and stability.
Speaking at a UN Security Council session on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, stressed that Syria completely “rejects any pretexts” that Israel uses to “justify its aggressions” and “holds the occupation fully responsible for these violations, which constitute a violation of Syrian sovereignty and a threat to the unity, integrity.”
He called on the United Nations and the Security Council to take firm action to stop Israeli practices, put an end to its attacks, and compel Israel to withdraw their forces from all Syrian territories, including the occupied Golan Heights.
Syria representative stated that Damascus “has been engaged in serious talks with Israel, thereby prioritizing peaceful and diplomatic means over confrontation” to address genuine security concerns for either side. However, he added, Israel continues its illegal military incursion into Syrian land in “blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and international law”.
Olabi stressed that “true intentions for achieving security and stability” are not realized through force and domination but through dialogue noting that the Israeli practices can only lead to further tension and undermine the prospects for building peace.
He called to maintain the operations of both UNDOF and UNTSO in monitoring Israeli violations and reporting them to the Security Council in a timely manner.
On the Palestinian issue, Olabi said that Syria welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza and hopes it will help end the “suffering of Palestinian civilians and allow the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid,”
He praised the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Turkey, which helped broker the ceasefire, and urged Israel to maintain it rather than “return to aggression.”
