Vietnam strongly condemns attacks on civilians and civil infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, calls for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, and supports a two-state solution to the conflict, said Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations.

The ambassador was speaking at the 10th Special Emergency Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) held in New York on October 26-27 (local time) to discuss the escalating Israel-Hamas war in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

At the session, the UNGA passed a resolution on “protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations” in Gaza, calling for an “immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.”

The resolution also demands aid access to the blockaded Gaza Strip and protection of civilians.

A total of 120 countries, including Vietnam, voted in favor of the resolution, 14 countries voted against, including Israel and the United States, while 45 others abstained.

The resolution came about three weeks after Hamas launched surprise cross-border raids from Gaza on Israel, which counterattacked with airstrikes soon later.

In his speech after the vote, Giang emphasized the need for all parties to comply with international law, international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, cease fire, release hostages immediately, and stop and restrain acts of violence.

“Vietnam, as a country that experienced decades of war and loss, strongly condemns attacks against civilians and essential civil infrastructure,” Giang stated.

He called for urgent humanitarian assistance, especially water, food, and medicine, for people in the Gaza Strip, and requested relevant parties to support humanitarian relief operations.

The ambassador extended his deep condolences to the families of the victims of the escalating conflict, while underscoring that Vietnam welcomes and supports international mediation efforts aimed at a sustainable and fair peace solution.

Vietnam’s stance is to support a two-state solution, which advocates an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel, on the basis of compliance with international law and related UN resolutions, Giang said.

He also called on the UN in general and the Security Council in particular to have a unified and constructive message to help reduce tensions, end fighting, protect civilians, and support the relevant parties to resume negotiations.

Representatives from some countries expressed their disappointment at the UN Security Council’s inability to reach a unanimous decision to resolve the current situation in Gaza.

Before the aforementioned UNGA vote, the UN Security Council had sequentially conducted votes for its four draft resolutions on the Israel-Hamas war, but none has been adopted due to disagreements among its country members, according to Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People’s Army) newspaper. 

Israel has been bombarding Gaza and has now been waging ground operations after Hamas' surprise attack killed at least 1,400 Israelis on October 7, according to international media.

At least 229 hostages were taken into Gaza by Hamas, and four of them have been released, AP reported.

Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry told AFP on Sunday said that more than 8,000 people, half of whom are children, had been killed in the Palestinian territory during Israel’s counterattacks since the start of the war.

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