COTABATO CITY — Bangsamoro Parliament Deputy Floor Leader MP Anna Tarhata Basman has reiterated the legislative body’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza, describing the ongoing conflict as a “genocide” and a “disgrace.”
In a privilege speech delivered Thursday, November 16, Basman said that the Israeli government’s bombing of hospitals in Gaza and supposed safe zones and passage routes, its attacks on civilians, journalists, and medical professionals, and its refusal to provide access to food, water, electricity, and medical supplies are “war crimes.”
“Mr. Speaker, this is plainly, and without a shadow of doubt, genocide unfolding right before our eyes,” Basman said.
Just last month, the Bangsamoro Parliament adopted consolidated resolutions—with one filed by Basman—calling for the unconditional cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for Gaza, and condemning acts of violence and collective punishment against the Palestinian people.
In her privilege speech, Basman also called on the international community to play a more active role in facilitating a ceasefire and finding a lasting solution to the conflict.
“This is a threat to international political order,” Basman said. “No, Mr. Speaker, more than that: this is a disgrace. It is unacceptable.”
Basman reiterated her call for an unconditional ceasefire, saying that “there is no other option.”
“The longer this lasts, the farther we are to resolving the decades-long conflict in the Middle East. The longer this lasts, the more we show the weakness and frailty of our international institutions. The longer this lasts, the more we scream to the world that Palestinian lives don’t matter,” Basman said.
Basman’s speech comes amid growing international outcry over the Israeli government’s military campaign in Gaza. In her speech, she highlighted latest reports estimating that over 11,000 Palestinians have already been killed in the conflict, including at least 4,630 children and 3,130 women.
The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “catastrophic,” with millions of people in need of food, water, and medical supplies. The UN has also called for an immediate ceasefire-(PR)
