‘Continued Israeli crimes against Palestinians constitute grave violations of international law’

Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, H.E. Dr. Hend Abdulrahman Al Muftah, has declared that Israel's ongoing occupation, severe violations, and crimes towards Palestinians constitute grave breaches of international law. The statement was made during the Human Rights Council's general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories at the 63rd session in Geneva.

Dr. Al Muftah reinforced her country's vehement condemnation of Israel's continuous assaults on both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. She expressed deep concern over the targeting of innocent civilians and vital infrastructure, the persistent humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians, the Israeli settlers' unlawful incursions into the Al Aqsa Mosque, and the attempts to alter the religious, legal, and demographic composition of East Jerusalem.

She emphasized that Israel's adamant refusal to adhere to the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, as approved by Security Council Resolution 2803, is a clear defiance and a calculated move to sabotage international efforts towards a fair, comprehensive, and enduring peace. This includes the pursuit of a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent and autonomous Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital.

Dr. Al Muftah appealed to the global community to shoulder its responsibilities to put an end to the Israeli occupation, ensure justice for the crimes perpetrated against Palestinians, and cease providing any backing that fuels the growth and consolidation of illegal Israeli settlements. She welcomed the actions of certain nations, such as imposing trade restrictions on goods produced in the settlements, urging for their expansion to prohibit any support for illegal Israeli settlement activity and ensure that states respect their obligations.