Philippine delegates were among those who walked out as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions in the Middle East during his address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly last week, a Philippine Foreign Affairs official confirmed.
“Yes, the Philippines joined the walk out, in global solidarity for peace in the Middle East and the call for all parties to desist from unilateral actions that erode the conditions of peace and undermine the visibility of a future Palestine state,” Analyn D. Ratonel, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson, said in a text message on Sunday.
Ms. Ratonel emphasized the Philippines’ stance toward a two-state solution as a viable path to peace, noting the government’s concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“The Philippines is deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and notes with alarm Israel’s efforts to advance the E1 settlement plan, and the continued rise of settler violence in the West Bank,” she said. “These actions are detrimental to finding a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Middle East conflict.”
Mr. Netanyahu, facing mounting criticism due to the Gaza war, called dozens of delegates who walked out during his address “moral cowards.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro urged world leaders at the UN to renew its commitment to international law by “put[ting] a human face” to policymaking.
In her address to the UN, Ms. Lazaro emphasized that numbers and statistics can obscure the extent of the world’s trials, the DFA said in a statement on Sunday. “[W]e must always put a face to what we do, remembering that every policy, every treaty, and every institutional reform is ultimately about real human lives,” she said.
She described Philippine experiences to help UN delegates put a face to issues like global warming, maritime security, artificial intelligence, and economic disparities. She said that developing countries — like the Philippines — are most vulnerable to these challenges.
Ms. Lazaro also repeated the Philippines’ commitment to an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza; calling for the protection of civilians, release of all hostages, and full compliance with international law.
With over 50 active armed conflicts and declining international cooperation, Ms. Lazaro said that peace is a shared responsibility. “Eighty-one years ago, our forebears forged this organization to save humanity from the scourge of war and reaffirm our shared dignity. Today, we must ask, have we honored that sacred covenant?” she said. — Francessca S. Abalos