ST. VINCENT - POLITICS - St. Vincent calls for Security Council intervention amidst 'war crimes' in Israel-Gaza conflict.

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, says 'war crimes' are being committed in the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict and has called for an end to hostilities on both sides.

The government made the call in a statement on Friday, five days after the regional bloc, CARICOM, said 'the savage nature of the attacks and counterattacks is the antithesis of civilised life and living'.

On October 7, Hamas militants fired rockets into Israel, killing scores of people and taking more than 100 others hostage.

Since then, Israel has been bombing Gaza and economists have been monitoring the economic fallout amidst the emerging humanitarian situation.

In its statement on Friday, the Ralph Gonsalves-led government said it endorses CARICOM's statement on the current attacks and counter-attacks.

'We reiterate the foundational principles for settlement of the conflict as contained in the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 242, which was adopted on November 22, 1967, following the Six-Day War in June 1967 between Israel, on the one hand, and Arab nations, including the Palestinians, on the other hand,' Kingstown said.

The government noted that the Resolution emphasises, centrally, among other things, 'a just and lasting peace in which every State in the area can live in security', and acknowledges 'the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognised boundaries free from threats or acts of force...

'This Resolution has become a pivotal cornerstone of Middle East diplomatic efforts since then,' the government said, noting that the resolution premises 'a two-State solution' for Israel and Palestine to live alongside each other in peace within secure and recognised boundaries free from threats or acts of force.

'Successive governments of Israel, more particularly those headed, or unduly influenced, by right-wing and ultra-nationalist forces, including the current government, have refused repeatedly to ensure the practical implementation of 'a just and lasting peace',' the GoSVG said.

'Indeed, Israel has imposed a veritable colonialism, including a harsh settler-colonialism and a forceful, illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, which has given rise to intense Palestinian resistance and a brutal Israeli response. Sadly, innocent lives are being lost, needlessly.'

Kingstown repeated CARICOM's expression of abhorrence at the recent attacks...