Geneva: The State of Qatar has voiced strong criticism against the Israeli government's policies that support expansionist settlement activities in Palestinian territories, arguing that such actions deepen the occupation and threaten the viability of a two-state solution. This assertion was made during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, held within the framework of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
According to Qatar News Agency, the statement was delivered by Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Qatar's Permanent Representative in Geneva. She highlighted the aggressive actions of the Israeli occupation forces, particularly in the Gaza Strip, noting that these actions contribute to a narrative of re-settling the Strip. The statement emphasized the forced displacement, starvation, and infrastructure destruction faced by Palestinians, as well as the broader implications for regional stability.
Dr. Al Muftah pointed out Israel's disregard for international resolutions related to the Palestinian issue, including Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016 and the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on July 19, 2024. These resolutions declare Israel's settlement activities in occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, as illegal under international law. She called on the international community to not recognize Israel's legal presence in these territories and to refrain from providing assistance.
Furthermore, Dr. Al Muftah urged the global community to pressure Israel into halting its aggression against Gaza, facilitating humanitarian aid access, and protecting Palestinian rights. She advocated for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, borders, along with compensation for Palestinian losses and accountability for crimes committed against them.
Dr. Al Muftah also expressed appreciation for UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese's report and condemned the Israeli authorities for denying her access to the occupied territories and the pressures exerted to challenge her mandate.