Members of the United Nations Security Council stand in silence, in honor of the victims of the Crocus City Hall concert venue Moscow attack, on the day of a vote on a Gaza resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan leading to a permanent sustainable ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., March 25, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
MANILA, Philippines — The head of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomed on Tuesday the United Nations (UN) Security Council’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying it is “long overdue and must be implemented” immediately.
DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo aired his sentiment in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
READ: Countries call for swift implementation of UN ceasefire vote
“I welcome the Security Council’s decisive adoption of a resolution for immediate ceasefire, unconditional release of all hostages, and unhampered humanitarian assistance in Gaza. This is long overdue and must be implemented by all parties immediately,” said Manalo.
The foreign affairs official then noted that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza “demands swift and unified action” from the international community.
“The prompt implementation of the measures contained in the resolution will urgently relieve the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, and bring forth prospects for lasting peace,” Manalo stressed.
READ: PH backs UN resolution for ceasefire, hostage release in Gaza
The UN Security Council on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza five months into the war. On October 7, the tension between Israel and Hamas grew after an unprecedented attack in the Gaza Strip.
Thousands of people have been killed amid the armed conflict, including four Filipino nationals.
Earlier, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed the country’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
In December 2023, the Philippines likewise supported a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.