New york: The State of Qatar participated in the ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for Coordination of International Aid to the Palestinian People (AHLC), held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The State of Qatar was represented at the meeting by HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Khulaifi noted during the event that this year's meeting was taking place under exceptional circumstances. He highlighted the worsening Palestinian issue and the ongoing war in Gaza, mentioning that Qatar had directly experienced these repercussions through a recent Israeli airstrike on its capital. The attack was met with clear international condemnation.
Al Khulaifi emphasized the significance of a recent high-level international conference on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-state solution. He remarked that the conference confirmed a growing international consensus on the need for a lasting settlement and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, addressing security, economic, and political dimensions in an integrated way. The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, he noted, plays a key role in advancing this process.
His Excellency highlighted that the Two-State Solution Conference produced valuable outcomes, offering a roadmap with concrete proposals and practical initiatives, especially on the economic front. He stressed the necessity of continued international support for the State of Palestine to overcome current challenges and move toward establishing a viable Palestinian state.
In this context, he pointed out that the New York Declaration reaffirmed member states' commitment to providing political and financial backing for the Palestinian Authority. This support is crucial for strengthening institutional capacities, ensuring effective reform implementation, and enabling the Authority to fulfill its responsibilities across all occupied Palestinian territories.
Recounting the ongoing destruction in Gaza, Al Khulaifi described the humanitarian catastrophe as overwhelming and called for every possible effort to address it. He emphasized that progress on the Palestinian question requires a fundamental solution to the crisis in Gaza. Since the committee's previous meeting, humanitarian needs and the economic situation in Gaza have deteriorated significantly, underscoring the committee's role in addressing these challenges.
Al Khulaifi praised international partners' efforts, particularly the European Commission's decision to form a donor group for Palestine with a dedicated mechanism for Gaza's reconstruction. He highlighted the financial burdens on the Palestinian Authority due to restrictions on the transfer of Palestinian tax revenues.
His Excellency reaffirmed Qatar's clear and consistent position against illegal settlement activity, unlawful annexation, land seizure, or alterations to the historic status quo at holy sites, as these violate international law and undermine peace prospects. Such practices obstruct international efforts to support a lasting peace and threaten the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since the war's outbreak, Qatar has prioritized meeting humanitarian and medical needs in Gaza. Al Khulaifi underscored the importance of increasing aid flows amid an extreme humanitarian and health emergency and the declaration of famine. He reaffirmed Qatar's full support for UNRWA and the United Nations' role in delivering aid safely.
His Excellency reiterated Qatar's unwavering commitment to supporting the efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and international partners. These efforts aim to meet the immediate and long-term needs and rights of the Palestinian people, contributing to peace and security at both regional and international levels.