Palestine's ambassador in Doha Fayez Majed Abu al- Rab praised Qatar's support for the Palestinian people at various political and humanitarian levels and its standing by them in various stages and circumstances.
In his remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the first anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, the ambassador said Qatar, under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is one of the biggest supporters of the Palestinian people at all political, humanitarian and legal levels.
He stressed that Qatar has made and is making intensive efforts to mobilise international support, whether at the bilateral or multilateral level, to end the war of extermination on the Gaza Strip and to deliver relief aid.
Abu al-Rab added that Qatar has never hesitated to provide all forms of support to the Palestinian people, whether political, diplomatic, or humanitarian, which reflects the depth of the fraternal and historical relations between the people.
He said Qatar's diplomacy has been and continues to be diligent and constant, and its efforts have never stopped. It plays a pivotal role in the ceasefire talks in co-operation with regional and international partners to ensure ceasefire and to reach peaceful solutions. He added that Palestine highly appreciates that role that reflects Qatar's steadfast commitment to the Palestinian cause.
The Palestinian ambassador voiced his appreciation for Qatar's great efforts at the humanitarian level, and its provision of various relief materials, whether via the air bridge, by ship, or via Jordan, in addition to treating hundreds of wounded Palestinians in Qatari hospitals.
He emphasised that these humanitarian initiatives reflect the high humanitarian spirit enjoyed by the Qatari people and their wise leadership, which enhances the steadfastness of the Palestinians on their land, gives them hope, and boosts their morale in the face of the harsh conditions resulting from the siege and aggression.
Abu al-Rab pointed out the extremely poor conditions experienced by the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem due to the war that has resulted in the martyrdom of more than 42,000 citizens in Gaza and injured more than 97,000 so far. Also, around 700 citizens in the West Bank have been martyred by the bullets of the occupation and settlers since Oct 7, 2023, in addition to the danger of systematic forced displacement carried out by the extremist Israeli government.
He added that this policy reflects the terrorist mentality of the occupation, which is practicing a war of extermination and displacement in every sense of the word, while Netanyahu continues to deceive the international community by marketing the occupation's narrative that the goal of this war is to eliminate the resistance of the Palestinian people. In reality, it is a war of genocide against the sons of the Palestinian people.
He pointed out that the occupation is waging its war in the West Bank by granting complete freedom to settlers to commit crimes against defenseless Palestinian citizens, by intensifying settlements, confiscating lands, and further Judaising Jerusalem.
He added that the occupation policy is trying to destroy all the capabilities of the Palestinian people, as Gaza is no longer viable after a year of war in light of the destruction of buildings, facilities and infrastructure.
He said that the occupation is implementing a policy of cleansing and forced displacement, disregarding all international covenants and treaties that stipulate respect for human rights in times of war. He urged the international community to take urgent action to stop the occupation's crimes in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Regarding the role of the Palestinian Authority, the ambassador indicated that since the first day of the aggression, the Palestinian leadership has moved and instructed all Palestinian embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions to exert maximum efforts to mobilise the broadest international pressure front to stop the war of extermination and displacement, all in accordance with the political, diplomatic and international legal path.
He said that Palestinian diplomacy in all its forms has worked to expose the unprecedented violations of the Israeli government, especially in the Gaza Strip, and efforts are still ongoing at the political level in international forums, and this is reflected in more than one international meeting that recommended the necessity of stopping the war of extermination.
He noted that important achievements have been made at the level of the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and the important advisory opinion to ensure the cessation of the war and its non-expansion, and the implementation of what was stated in the advisory opinion issued by the UN General Assembly, with an overwhelming vote, which stipulates ending the occupation within 12 months.
Ambassador Abu al-Rab said the occupation government continues its rebellion and coup against international legitimacy decisions, and does not care about any international resolution calling for a ceasefire. It has even reached the point of attacking the International Court and the Secretary-General of the UN.
He added that Palestine emphasises that international law must take its course to achieve justice for the Palestinian cause, punish the occupation for its crimes, prosecute war criminals, and impose deterrent sanctions on the occupying state to force it to stop the war, aggression and the displacement.
He addressed the serious repercussions of the Israeli war on Gaza, and its impact on the security and stability of the region. He said that the world today is witnessing an expansion of the conflict by the occupation to include Lebanon and a number of countries in the region. He noted that it is clear that the head of the occupation government is seeking a regional war to remain in office for a longer period, regardless of what is happening in the Middle East.
He added that Qatar was right in its warnings of the dire consequences of this war and that its continuation would only lead to more destruction and tension in the region. He highlighted that the Palestinian leadership is striving to stop this escalation through diplomatic efforts in co-operation with Arab countries, especially Qatar.
He stressed that the ruling Israeli right wing, while seeking to expand the circle of conflict, is trying to undermine the foundations of the independent Palestinian state and liquidate its existence through killing, displacement, land confiscation, and implementing the annexation plan in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
He added that Israel is trying to strike the Palestinian leadership and destroy what has been achieved in building state institutions, to undermine any chance of its establishment on the ground, and this is what the pillars of the Israeli government are proud of.
The Palestinian ambassador said that there are Israeli threats to reoccupy the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which reflects the occupation government's tendencies towards further escalation and its rejection of any peaceful solution. He noted that the Palestinian Authority deals with these threats seriously, and seeks to strengthen the steadfastness of the Palestinian people through Arab and international support. He said Palestine highly appreciates Qatar's diplomatic efforts to stop these Israeli plans.
Regarding the Palestinian reconciliation efforts, the ambassador explained that reconciliation is an absolute priority to put the Palestinian house in order, especially in light of the circumstances that the Palestinian people are going through. He said that the Palestinian Authority is clinging to any opportunity to achieve that goal.
He stated that Palestinian delegations have begun arriving in Cairo for an all-Palestinian dialogue session to end the division on the basis of the agreement that the Palestine Liberation Organisation is the sole legitimate representative, and hence it is necessary to emphasise the geographical unity of the Palestinian state.
He stressed that the Palestinian leadership is working hard to unify ranks to address common challenges, including the Israeli aggression, appreciating in this context Qatar's support for reconciliation initiatives and for facilitating dialogue between Palestinian factions.
Abu al-Rab pointed out that the Palestinian cause is present today and strongly at the international level, stressing that the unprecedented presence of Palestine at the international level reflects the extent of support and endorsement for the justice of the Palestinian cause.
He added that the Palestinian Authority is working to translate this international consensus on the rights of the Palestinian people into facts on the ground.
The ambassador renewed the call to the world to transform positions into practical steps. He said that the real test is the ability of the international community to implement what was stated in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which was approved by the General Assembly, and to implement the opinion to end the occupation within 12 months.
The ambassador stressed that the best solution to the Palestinian issue is the two-state solution, and said this requires co-ordinated international and Arab efforts. He emphasised that the Palestinian leadership continues to co-operate with Arab countries, especially Qatar, which strongly supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. In this context, he stressed that joint Arab action is necessary to ensure the achievement of this goal.
Palestine's ambassador Fayez Majed Abu al-Rab.
