QNA
The State of Qatar confirmed that it is following with great concern the dangerous developments in the Gaza Strip, and renews its call on all parties to reduce the escalation to reach a complete ceasefire on all front lines, immediately release all prisoners, especially civilians, and ensure the arrival of urgent aid. To the Gaza Strip and open safe corridors that allow the entry of humanitarian aid.
This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, before the open discussion session of the Security Council on the item “The situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine.”
Her Excellency affirmed the State of Qatar’s condemnation of all forms of targeting civilians, especially women and children, and its categorical rejection of the comprehensive siege imposed by Israel, the occupying power, on the Gaza Strip, which deprives 2.3 million people, half of them children, of their basic needs, including water and food. Medicine and electricity. At a time when the Israeli bombing resulted in more than five thousand casualties among Gazans, including more than a thousand women and two thousand innocent children.
The Permanent Representative noted that it is unacceptable to use the current conflict as a pretext for practicing a policy of collective punishment by Israel towards the brotherly Palestinian people, including forced displacement and forcing civilians to displace or take refuge in neighboring countries, which is a flagrant violation of international laws.
Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani said that the expansion of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip to include civilian objects, including hospitals, schools, and population centers, is considered a dangerous escalation that portends serious consequences for the security and stability of the region, and a serious violation of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
The Permanent Representative indicated that the State of Qatar has repeatedly warned over the past months of the consequences of the increasing escalatory policies adopted by the Israeli government, including the rejected attempts to undermine the religious and historical status of the holy places, the repeated raids on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, the continuation of settlement policies, annexation of lands, the demolition of Palestinian property, and arbitrary measures. Against Palestinian prisoners. Her Excellency pointed out that the State of Qatar stresses the importance of cooperation in order to contain the cycle of violence and avoid the risk of sliding into a wider cycle of violence, the price of which will be paid by the peoples of the region.
Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani indicated that the State of Qatar took the initiative, over the past two weeks, to conduct intensive diplomatic contacts and efforts, at the highest levels, with a number of senior leaders and officials in the region, influential capitals, and international and regional actors.
The Permanent Representative added: “It has become known that the State of Qatar believes in mediation and dialogue to settle disputes peacefully, and that it keeps channels of communication open with all parties, which contributes to achieving repeated successes of Qatari mediation. We are pleased that, with the mediation efforts of the State of Qatar, a number of people have been released.” “The hostages held in the Gaza Strip during the past days, and efforts are still continuing intensively with brotherly and friendly countries and international partners to achieve this endeavour.”
Her Excellency added: “Therefore, the State of Qatar strongly rejects what was stated in Israel’s statement regarding the politicization of the humanitarian support provided by the State of Qatar to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, and giving a picture contrary to the reality of the mediation efforts of the State of Qatar, which has received widespread and continuous praise from brotherly and friendly countries and the United Nations.” And international partners, as we heard repeatedly in this session, expressed their words of thanks and appreciation to the State of Qatar and praise for its role.” Stressing that the support of the State of Qatar to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip is humanitarian and development support that is carried out through United Nations channels, and stems from our humanitarian and moral duty towards the brotherly Palestinian people, and comes in response to the calls of international partners who have constantly urged the State of Qatar to play a leadership role in achieving stability. Which is in the interest of the Gaza Strip and neighboring countries. She continued: “We affirm that the State of Qatar is continuing its humanitarian endeavor to secure the lives of every human being in this catastrophic crisis in the Gaza Strip.”
Her Excellency stressed that the State of Qatar stresses the necessity of facilitating the immediate, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian aid to all those in need. It also stresses the need to activate the role of the United Nations and international organizations to address urgent humanitarian issues. She continued: “In this regard, we express our full appreciation for the pivotal role played by the Arab Republic of Egypt, and we also commend the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the agencies of the international organization, especially UNRWA and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.”
Her Excellency Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani said that we would like to point out that the State of Qatar is keen to participate in providing emergency assistance, starting with sending several planes loaded with humanitarian aid to Al-Arish Airport over the past days in preparation for transporting it to the Gaza Strip. This is in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance provided by the State of Qatar to improve the deteriorating living conditions as a result of the ongoing siege on the Gaza Strip for more than 16 years, and includes building housing, health facilities and infrastructure such as roads and providing the necessary fuel to generate electricity, as well as financial support to UNRWA, with the aim of alleviating One of the factors of loss of hope that threatens stability, security and peace.
The Permanent Representative expressed the State of Qatar’s regret that the Security Council was unable to adopt a consensus resolution to put an end to this crisis, and continued: “We still hope that the Council will, in this regard, assume the responsibility assigned to it in accordance with the Charter towards maintaining international peace and security.”
She pointed out that the Security Council has listened throughout the past period to many voices stressing that partial solutions and the imposition of a fait accompli make the current situation unsustainable and the cycle of violence continues, and she added: “Here we are witnessing a new episode of violence, which confirms to us once again that the only guarantee for achieving sustainable peace is In the region, the goal is to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with the Arab Initiative and the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the Palestinian people’s enjoyment of their inalienable rights. This requires concrete measures and serious work to resolve this central issue. For peace in the Middle East.
The Permanent Representative stressed that the State of Qatar believes that peace is still possible even under the darkest and most dangerous circumstances, and calls on the parties concerned and the international community to work to transform the terrible tragedy we are witnessing into an incentive to renew the tireless work for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement.