Doha: The third Annual Palestine Forum, organized by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in collaboration with the Institute for Palestine Studies, began Saturday in Doha, in the presence of HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, and HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi.

According to Qatar News Agency, the three-day forum is one of the foremost academic gatherings for Palestine studies, focusing on research topics ranging from international law to cultural heritage, political movements, history, and global solidarity. The event is attended by a number of academics, researchers, and activists who will address various dimensions of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as challenges facing the Palestinian national project.

The forum's agenda includes seven sessions, three public seminars over the course of the event, and a closed workshop on the third day. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Palestine Studies, Dr. Tarek Mitri, highlighted the importance of the forum in fostering dialogue and enriching research thought. He noted that the event follows the recent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, yet fears persist in Gaza and the West Bank due to ongoing Israeli aggression.

In his keynote address, Dr. Mitri expressed concerns about potential Israeli aggression on the West Bank, emphasizing that the conflict has broader implications and cannot be ignored or trivialized. He also discussed the Institute for Palestine Studies' efforts in documenting the war's impact on education, health, culture, and agriculture.

General Director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS), Dr. Azmi Bishara, delivered a keynote on recent developments in the Palestinian cause and the dimensions of Palestinian steadfastness in the face of ongoing challenges. He stressed the critical need for a unified Palestinian stance, noting that its absence allows Israel to maneuver freely on international, regional, and local stages, diverting attention from Palestinian issues.

The scientific committee of the forum received 560 research proposals, of which 220 were accepted, and approximately 90 peer-reviewed papers will be presented during the event.