Doha: The Doha-based Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) organized an international conference in Cairo, Egypt, to reject the planned forced displacement of the Palestinian population in the occupied territories.
According to Qatar News Agency, ANNHRI announced that the conference was held in collaboration with the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights, the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, the Arab Organization for Human Rights, and the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights. It was also supported by the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, the Arab Lawyers Syndicate, and the Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organization.
The conference gathered 80 prominent figures, including leaders from the international human rights community, representatives of national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, Arab and foreign embassies in Cairo, parliamentarians, and media professionals.
HE Secretary-General of ANNHRI, Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali, emphasized that the conference aimed to explore tools to combat the ongoing threats to the Palestinian people, which he described as an attempt to liquidate their cause and undermine the Arab nation as a whole. He asserted that silencing the Palestinian issue equates to silencing the collective voice of the Arab world.
Al Jamali reaffirmed continued efforts to defend the Palestinian people, calling for increased support to strengthen their resilience against oppression and injustice. He stressed the need to enable Palestinians across all of Palestine to remain steadfast on their land.
Additionally, he highlighted the importance of Arab economic integration, advocating for the establishment of an Arab economic, monetary, and customs union. Such an initiative, he argued, would facilitate a common Arab market, fostering economic cooperation to equip Arab nations with the resources necessary to keep pace with scientific advancements, particularly in the fields of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Secretary-General of Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights, Ambassador Fahmy Fayed, underscored the gravity of the situation in Gaza, stressing that forced displacement is a humanitarian crime punishable under international law. He noted that Palestinians are facing extreme hardships, deprived of even the basic means for survival, and reiterated their internationally recognized right to return to their homeland and rebuild their communities.
In turn, President of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, Alaa Shalabi, described the return of Gaza residents to their homes as a critical turning point in the history of the Palestinian cause. He praised the steadfastness of the Arab stance in defending Palestinian rights.
Head of the Palestinian Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, Issam Younis, warned that the current phase represents the most dangerous moment for the Palestinian cause since 1948, as the occupying state continues its efforts to forcibly displace the Palestinian people.
The conference addressed key humanitarian and legal measures, including supporting humanitarian relief efforts to provide essential aid to Gaza residents, reinforcing their ability to remain on their land; strengthening the role of UN agencies, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), to fulfill their mandate in delivering urgent assistance; advancing international legal accountability, including the activation of the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure civilian protection; holding the occupying authorities accountable for reparations and damages caused by their aggression; and backing the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its efforts to uphold justice, counter attempts to undermine its authority, and provide it with verified data and documentation on Palestinian rights violations.
Through these discussions, the conference reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights, mobilizing international support, and taking concrete steps to prevent further violations against the Palestinian people.