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The Palestinian civilian population is paying the price, again, for the world’s failure to implement the two-state solution upholding the equal rights and sovereignty of both Israel and Palestine.

The UN has grossly failed to implement its mandate in respect of Israel and Palestine. 

It has fundamentally failed the citizens of Israel and Palestine who have equal rights to safety, dignity and opportunity. 

We condemn the brutality perpetrated by Hamas against innocent citizens of Israel and we condemn the devastating retaliation by Israel. 

Israel’s apartheid government has created an environment in which real peace in the region is impossible and an escalation of the conflict is not the solution.

Israel’s illegal annexation and occupation of land, for decades, its farmers’ invasion of more land, and the daily violations by its soldiers and police of the dignity of Palestinians, cannot be ignored in any effort to find sustainable solutions and peace.

Few are calling for the de-escalation of the conflict.

If there are voices calling for a cease-fire and mediation they are being drowned out by those choosing sides, reducing a complex 70-year-old conflict to a binary choice between the two nations.

What the world needs is leaders of stature who, regardless of their own geo-political interests, are willing to speak out truthfully about the need for justice, peace and co-existence in the Middle East… willing to step in urgently to prevent mass death in Gaza, and willing to revive negotiations towards the two-state solution.

This carnage is continuing because there are no credible and influential champions of peace with the foresight and respect to de-escalate the conflict.

Issued by Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament