On October 17, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, condemning the attacks by the Islamic Resistance Movement against civilians and foreigners in Israel and the capture of hostages, QazMonitor reports citing the ministry's press service.
The statement notes that Kazakhstan supports the call of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and insurance of unimpeded access to humanitarian aid.
In his speech during the Summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Bishkek on October 13, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, “Challenges that have not been finding their solution for decades cannot be resolved by terrorist actions. There is no justification.”
Furthermore, the MFA states that Kazakhstan also calls on Israel to refrain from a disproportionate use of force leading to numerous victims among the civilian population of the Gaza Strip and the destruction of civil infrastructure.
In this situation, it is crucial to comply with the norms of international law and follow the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, which secure the legal rights of the Palestinian people, as violence leads to counter-violence and inevitably causes tragic consequences not only for the Middle East but also to the rest of the world.
Kazakhstan expressed solidarity with the international community in demanding the lifting of the time limits imposed for the evacuation of the Gaza Strip and the full protection of civilians, who should not be held hostage to the conflict. In this regard, our country calls on all parties to immediate ceasefire and focus efforts on achieving a peaceful resolution based on stability and security for all residents of the region according to the two-state solution.