Qatar slams Israeli minister's call to erase a Palestinian town

Qatar has condemned in the strongest terms the call of the Israeli finance minister to erase the Palestinian town of Hawara, considering it a serious incitement to a war crime.
In a statement Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that this hateful and provocative call represents an extension of the escalatory policy adopted by the Israeli government in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In this context, the ministry held the Israeli occupation authorities alone responsible for the cycle of violence that will result from this systematic policy against the Palestinian people and their Islamic and Christian lands and sanctities.
The ministry stressed the need for the international community to act urgently to protect the Palestinian civilian population, including expanding and activating existing protection mechanisms to prevent and deter violations.
The ministry also reaffirmed the firm position of Qatar on the justice of the Palestinian cause, the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, and the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Saudi Arabia also condemned the Israeli minister's remarks, describing it as "racist and irresponsible".
The Saudi foreign ministry expressed its "complete rejection of such racist and irresponsible statements, which reflect the massive violence and extremism the Israeli occupation entity is exercising against the brotherly Palestinians."
UN human rights chief Volker Turk denounced Smotrich's comments on Huwara as "an unfathomable statement of incitement to violence and hostility".
Meanwhile, Qatar has renewed its position supporting the Palestinian people and their just cause until they reclaim all their legitimate rights, and establish full sovereignty as independent state based on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as the capital.
This came in a statement delivered by HE the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN in Geneva, Dr Hind Abdul Rahman al-Muftah, during her participation in the interactive dialogue on the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem and the commitment to guarantee accountability and justice.
HE Dr al-Muftah expressed the appreciation of Qatar for the efforts of the High Commissioner in documenting and analysing the violations committed against the Palestinian people, and its denunciation of the Israeli authorities not allowing the entry of UNHCR staff into the occupied Palestinian territories.
She strongly condemned the continued flagrant violations of international laws and conventions by the occupation authorities, which were referred to in the Commission's report, and their illegal and disproportionate use of force, as well as the continued violence and killings committed by settlers under the protection of Israeli forces, in a climate characterised by complete impunity and accountability.
She stressed that Israel's insistence on continuing its violations and racist policies aimed at expanding illegal settlement and attempting to legitimise it, as well as the increase in aggression and crimes against civilians, including women and children, and the imposition of collective punishments on the Gaza Strip, will lead to more suffering for the Palestinian people. The violation of their right to self-determination destroys any just, lasting and comprehensive solutions, and threatens security and stability in the region.
HE Dr al-Muftah called on the international community to take urgent action to stop the Israeli aggression, end the occupation, protect the Palestinian people, and hold Israel accountable for its horrific crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
She also welcomed the General Assembly's request to obtain an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation.