Doha, 25 October 2023 (TDI): The decisive statements were made by Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, during the Security Council’s open debate on the “Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.”
Qatar is demanding the immediate release of prisoners, particularly civilians, and the unobstructed delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, along with the establishment of secure corridors for humanitarian assistance.
She did not mince words in condemning the targeting of civilians, especially women and children, and denounced the comprehensive siege imposed by Israel, the occupying authority, on the Gaza Strip.
This siege is a stranglehold on the 2.3 million residents, half of whom are innocent children, depriving them of essential necessities such as water, food, medicine, and electricity.
The recent Israeli bombings have left a grim toll of over 5,000 victims, including more than 1,000 women and 2,000 children.
The Qatari representative underscored that it is inexcusable for the ongoing conflict to be wielded as a pretext for Israel’s practice of collective punishment against the Palestinian people.
This punishment extends to forced displacement and the coercion of civilians to seek refuge in neighboring nations, blatantly violating international laws.
Notably, the Israeli attacks have escalated to encompass civilian facilities such as hospitals, schools, and residential areas.
Also read: UN Chief calls for Israel-Gaza ceasefire
These actions pose a grave threat to regional security and stability and constitute a blatant infringement of international law and pertinent Security Council resolutions.
Over the past few months, Qatar has issued repeated warnings regarding the consequences of the escalating policies of the Israeli government.
These include attempts to tamper with the religious and historical significance of holy sites, recurring intrusions into the revered Al-Aqsa Mosque, ongoing settlement endeavors, land annexation, demolition of Palestinian properties, and arbitrary measures against Palestinian prisoners.
Qatar emphasizes the importance of cooperation to contain the spiral of violence and prevent the risk of a wider, devastating conflict that would inflict suffering on the region’s people.
Qatar has taken the initiative to engage in intensive diplomatic efforts and high-level contacts with leaders and officials in the region and influential capitals, in addition to international and regional stakeholders.
These efforts have resulted in the release of several hostages held in the Gaza Strip, and Qatar continues to work tirelessly with sisterly and friendly countries to achieve this endeavor.
The State of Qatar vehemently rejects Israel’s politicization of the humanitarian support it provides to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
Qatar’s mediation efforts have received extensive commendation from sisterly and friendly nations, the United Nations, and international partners.
The support extended to Gaza is purely humanitarian and developmental, channeled through the United Nations, fulfilling a moral duty to the Palestinian people and responding to the calls of international partners.
Qatar is determined to continue its humanitarian efforts to alleviate the dire living conditions that have resulted from the 16-year-long siege on the Gaza Strip.
These efforts include constructing houses, healthcare facilities, roads, providing essential fuel for electricity generation, and financial support for UNRWA.
These initiatives aim to mitigate the factors that contribute to despair, threatening stability, security, and peace.
The Qatari representative expressed regret over the UN Security Council’s inability to reach a consensus resolution to end the current crisis and expressed hope that the Security Council would effectively address this crisis in line with its obligations for maintaining international peace and security.
Qatar firmly believes that peace remains possible even in the most challenging circumstances.
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