“This is not warfare, but mass extermination” – President Ali at UN calls for unconditional release of hostages, end to Israeli aggression

President Dr Irfaan Ali has delivered one of his strongest condemnations yet of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, declaring before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that Israel’s actions amount to “mass extermination” and demanding urgent international action.

Addressing the Council during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President Ali said the global community cannot stand idly by while “an entire people is annihilated”.
“Whilst we reiterate our condemnation of the attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, and again call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, Israel’s actions have long shattered any pretence of legitimate self-defence,” Ali stated. “What we are witnessing is not warfare but mass extermination – a systematic slaughter and displacement of Palestinian men, women, and children. Those who escape the bombs and bullets are condemned to die slowly, starved of food, water, and hope. This is a war crime.”
He stressed that impunity must not triumph over justice and urged urgent action to halt the genocide, secure the return of hostages, and redouble efforts toward a two-state solution. The Guyanese leader also called on Qatar, Egypt, and the United States (US) to continue mediation efforts to break the deadlock.
The President placed Israel’s campaign in Gaza within a broader context of crises facing the international system, including Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory, the persecution of women in Afghanistan, the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, and rampant gang violence in Haiti.

“Urgent end”
On Ukraine, Ali reiterated Guyana’s call for an “urgent end” to the war and reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Similar sentiments were echoed on Tuesday by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd during a UN Security Council briefing on the maintenance of peace and security in Ukraine.
Todd said the ongoing war posed a growing risk of regional escalation, with repeated violations of international law and territorial integrity.
“Guyana rejects the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any nation state. All nations must be free to determine their own destinies as free peoples, including the projection and protection of their interests. We, therefore, join the international community in reaffirming the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and call for an immediate end to the conflict and attendant violations of international law.”
“We deeply regret that a peaceful resolution is yet to be found and that the repeated calls for good faith negotiations and the cessation of hostilities have not been heeded. Even as resolution 2774 remains unimplemented, we remain convinced that a peaceful solution is still possible and the only viable path forward,” Todd said.
He called for the immediate cessation of hostilities, pointing to UN Resolution 2774, which remains unimplemented, while stressing that peace could never be achieved by military escalation or one side imposing its will upon another.
The foreign Minister expressed deep concern over violations of international humanitarian law that have left civilians “squarely at the mercy of combatants”, including the targeting of schools, hospitals, and other critical civilian infrastructure. He condemned the abduction of children, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and deliberate destruction of cities, noting that such actions will have long-term economic, social, and psychological impacts.
“The effects of this situation, including the mass destruction of cities and the prolonged economic, social, and psychological impacts, will be acutely felt for years to come. Children have paid a particularly high price on account of the violence meted out, especially in the attacks against schools and hospitals. Guyana has always spoken out firmly against such actions and does so again today. We continue to demand that the parties respect humanitarian principles and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” the Minister added.
Todd emphasised that ending these violations requires the full withdrawal of Russian Federation military forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory. He also raised alarm over reports of violations of neighbouring countries’ airspace, warning that such actions risk igniting a broader regional conflict.
“Attempts to resolve a conflict through military escalation will only exacerbate the situation and make a peaceful resolution more difficult,” Todd cautioned.
He concluded with a call for an urgent ceasefire and for the international community to unite behind peace efforts. “Resolution 2774 must be implemented. Guyana urges the international community to work in concert to support those efforts. We will continue to do our part as members of this Council,” he affirmed.