Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. E.P. Chet Greene, has delivered a forceful statement at The Hague Group Ministerial Meeting on the Question of Palestine, condemning what he described as acts of genocide in Gaza and reaffirming his country’s unwavering support for Palestinian self-determination.
Speaking on behalf of the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, Greene said the ongoing assault against Palestinians had created a “humanitarian cataclysm” and represented not only a political crisis but “a moral necessity” for the international community to address.
“What we are witnessing in Gaza, and what has been documented by credible international bodies, legal experts and human rights organizations, points to a reality we cannot and must not ignore: the commission of acts amounting to genocide against the Palestinian people,” Greene declared.
He denounced the obstruction of humanitarian aid, the destruction of homes, hospitals, universities, and places of worship, and the devastating civilian death toll, noting that women and children have borne the brunt of the violence. Greene argued that such actions constitute systematic violations of the Genocide Convention, the Geneva Conventions, and international law.
Drawing parallels with Antigua and Barbuda’s own struggle for sovereignty, Greene said his country’s history compels it to speak out against injustice wherever it occurs. “We cannot and will not be silent spectators to a campaign of collective punishment,” he affirmed.
Greene outlined five key positions of Antigua and Barbuda on the crisis:
Condemnation of Israel’s military assault, which he said amounted to genocide.
A call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end the bloodshed and allow humanitarian access.
Full recognition of the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Support for the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court in their investigations to ensure accountability for violations of international law.
An appeal to the international community to fulfill its responsibility to protect the Palestinian population from further atrocities.
Greene stressed that the path to peace cannot come “through the annihilation of one people by another,” but through dialogue, justice, and mutual recognition of rights. He reiterated that Antigua and Barbuda would continue to use its voice in international forums to champion peace, justice, and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.
“The world’s silence and inaction have been complicit,” Greene concluded. “The time for decisive action is now.”
