Guyana urges coordinated international action to end Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories

Guyana has once again taken a firm stance on the question of Palestine, with Foreign Minister Hugh Todd calling for urgent, coordinated international action to end what he described as Israel’s “illegal occupation” of Palestinian territories. Speaking during a high-level meeting at the United Nations (UN), Minister Todd aligned Guyana with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and reiterated the country’s longstanding support for the two-state solution.
In his address, Todd condemned what he termed the “protracted Israeli aggression against Palestine”, stressing that the ongoing war in Gaza has inflicted immeasurable suffering on Palestinians.

The minister pointed out that famine in Gaza unfolded before the eyes of the international community, yet 192 UN member states failed to stop it. He argued that the international system must now adopt the same collective resolve that helped dismantle apartheid in South Africa to bring an end to Israel’s occupation.
“Guyana calls on the member states of the United Nations to ensure that their engagements with the State of Israel do not in any way contribute to prolonging the war in Gaza and the Israeli oppression of the Palestinian people. It took a collective effort to dismantle the system of apartheid in South Africa, and Guyana firmly believes that an equally strong and organised international response is needed to ensure the end of the occupation of the Palestinian territory. I must underscore the importance of recognition of the State of Palestine by all UN member states as a pivotal part of forcing an end to the Israeli occupation.”
Todd underscored that recognition of the State of Palestine by all UN members would be a pivotal step toward strengthening international pressure and securing a lasting peace.
Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice more than a year ago – which declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal – Todd noted that Israel has not complied with the UN General Assembly’s demand to end its occupation by September 18, 2025. Instead, he said, actions on the ground have further entrenched the occupation and undermined the two-state solution.
“The General Assembly later demanded that Israel end its occupation within a year, that is, by the 18th of September 2025. That date has now passed without compliance on Israel’s part. On the contrary, we have instead witnessed a series of developments that only entrench the occupation further and destroy the two-state solution. Guyana calls on Israel to respect the charge of the United Nations, to abide by the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Security Council and other organs of the United Nations, to cease its attempt – to cease its contempt, sorry – of international law and to commit to true peace in the Middle East,” Todd told the assembly.
Minister Todd reaffirmed Guyana’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and Palestinian detainees, and full humanitarian access. He insisted that Israel must end policies and practices that erode prospects for peace.

Middle East veto
Just last week, Guyana had voiced deep disappointment at the failure of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, after a veto by one of its permanent members blocked the move despite overwhelming support from the rest of the Council.
On Thursday last, the United States (US) once again vetoed a UN resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, following a vote in the Security Council.
The vote was cast as the 15-member Council held its 10,000th meeting against the backdrop of famine spreading in the besieged enclave and an ongoing Israeli offensive to take full control of Gaza City.
The draft also called for the release of all hostages held by Hamas and for Israel to lift all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and ensure that it is safely distributed to the population – in particular by UN agencies and partners.
In a statement at the Council’s meeting, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, said Guyana “deeply regrets the use of the veto today which scuttled these efforts,” noting that 14 members supported the draft resolution put forward by the elected ten members.
“Fourteen Member States of the Council decided to definitively respond to the confirmation of famine in Gaza and to reiterate our demand for a ceasefire and for the release of all hostages held in Gaza. Guyana therefore deeply regrets the use of the veto today, which scuttled these efforts.”
“The question consuming many in the international community, including many of us around this table, is, what will it take to achieve consensus for the Security Council to act as one and exercise its responsibility to protect the Palestinian people? In the nearly two years of Israel’s active military operations in Gaza, the breadth of the atrocities unleashed on the Palestinian people defies every tenet of decency, morality and humanity. More importantly, international law – the very fabric of the international system that we built from the ruins of World War Two – continues to be violated every single day in defiance of every warning, every legal ruling, and every appeal to the perpetrator of these atrocities. And all of this, Mr President, is done with total impunity,” the Guyanese envoy stated.