A resolution drafted by Malta was adopted by the UN Security Council last week. It urges for, inter alia, humanitarian pauses – to allow aid for the population in Gaza, the release of hostages, and the evacuation of sick children.

Borg explained that the point of this framework was to lay the ground for compromise and to protect children and civilians. He said that Malta will “continue” to be an interlocutor for peace amid a process where everyone will be “heard and respected”.

He further called for Israel to respect international and humanitarian law and to defend itself proportionally, after reminding that Malta immediately condemned Hamas after the 7th October attacks.

This was not the first attempt at the Security Council to agree on a resolution, however, no other drafts proved successful. Therefore, Malta looked at an aspect of the conflict that cannot be disputed; the innocence of children, which is particularly suitable since Malta chairs an international working group on children in armed conflicts.

The resolution was approved thanks to the favouring votes of 12 Security Council members, and the abstention (not veto) of the US, Russia, and the UK.

Moreover, Borg explained that this is the first resolution to be approved about the conflict since 2016. Meanwhile, he said Malta will continue to call for a two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of both. 

Shadow Foreign Minister Beppe Fenech Adami agreed in backing the two-state solution. However, he pointed out that Palestinians needed to recognise the right for Israel to exist, furhter meaning that Hamas cannot be the negotiating partner with whom to dialogue.

Nationalist MP Mario de Marco said that he regretted that some diplomats declared that the resolution would not be observed.

This consequently prompted the Palestinian representative to ask the Security Council what will be done about it. And how will the international community react?

To which Borg replied that Malta is appealing to the international community to respect the rule of law.

After the resolution was adopted, Malta’s UN ambassador Vanessa Frazier explained that the idea that “children equal innocence” is indisputable. She further gave the next steps of the process following the adoption of the resolution and defended its effectiveness in light of Israel’s rejection.

What do you make of his statement?