New york: The State of Qatar asserted that the prolonged Israeli occupation represents a blatant violation of the principles of international law, the UN Charter, and pertinent UN resolutions. This stance was reiterated alongside Qatar's approval of the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in July 2024, which received endorsement from the UN General Assembly in December 2024.
According to Qatar News Agency, this declaration was made by Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, Second Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, during the Fourth Committee session of the UN General Assembly at its 80th meeting. The session focused on the 'Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,' held at the UN headquarters.
Sheikh Jassim highlighted that the International Court of Justice affirmed Israel's obligation to cease its unlawful presence in occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, emphasizing the necessity to preserve the unity, continuity, and integrity of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza as a single territorial entity.
He further discussed the reports presented to the General Assembly, documenting Israel's ongoing actions in the occupied territories that violate international law and infringe upon the rights of Palestinian and other Arab populations, mentioning practices such as settlement expansion, forced displacement, and home demolitions.
Moreover, Sheikh Jassim condemned recent incidents involving the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacks on the Hajjeh Hamida Mosque, labeling these acts as clear violations of international law. He also outlined Qatar's mediation efforts, in collaboration with Egypt and the United States, to alleviate humanitarian suffering and secure the release of detainees amid the Israeli-Gaza conflict.
Qatar's recent diplomatic efforts, in partnership with Egypt, Turkiye, and the United States, culminated in a ceasefire agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh on October 13, aimed at ending hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
Sheikh Jassim underscored that achieving sustainable peace in the region requires a just resolution to the Palestinian issue, aligning with international legitimacy resolutions, including the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement and the Two-State solution, which would recognize Palestinian rights to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.