Palestine thanks PH for UN walkout vs Netanyahu
Palestine’s embassy in Manila on Monday thanked the Philippines for taking a “principled position” after Philippine diplomats joined a walkout at the United Nations General (UN) Assembly last week when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium for a speech.
In a statement, the Embassy of the State of Palestine expressed “sincere appreciation” to the Philippine delegation after it joined dozens of nations in streaming out of the hall as Netanyahu took the stage at the world assembly on Sept. 24, where he defended his country’s conduct in Gaza amid global condemnation.
Israel has faced escalating diplomatic isolation since launching its military campaign in Gaza after Islamist Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. That date has since become a rallying cry, but there has also been a widening international concern over the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza because of the Israeli campaign.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said over the weekend the Philippine delegation joined the diplomatic walkout in solidarity with international calls for peace in the Middle East and against acts that “undermine the visibility of a future Palestine state.”
In a text message to the Inquirer, DFA spokesperson Analyn Ratonel said the Philippines “notes with alarm Israel’s efforts to advance the E1 settlement plan, and the continued rise of settler violence in the West Bank,” which are “detrimental to finding a just, lasting, and comprehensive solution to the Middle East conflict.”
E1 or East 1 refers to the Israeli project to expand its Ma’ale Adumim settlement in the West Bank and connect it to Jerusalem. Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been declared illegal by UN’s top court.
“The Philippines has always supported the two-state solution as the viable path to peace in the region,” the DFA added.
Hailing the Philippines’ gesture, Palestine’s embassy said, “This position reflects the Philippines’ commitment to international law, peace, and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
‘Cannot look away’
In a separate statement, political group Akbayan said the Philippine delegation’s decision to walk out during Netanyahu’s speech was an important pivot in the nation’s diplomatic posture.
“In the middle of such a massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza, it is not enough for us to just stay silent,” Akbayan president Rafaela David said in Filipino. “The Philippines cannot look away from the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
David added that “if we can stand up at the United Nations, we should be able to uphold the same principles in our own foreign and defense policies.”
The Philippines’ international partnerships must be rooted on “international law and human rights,” she said.
More than 70,000 people have since died amid Israel’s retaliatory attacks on Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities.
