Qatar reiterates strong condemnation, denunciation of Israeli occupation forces, settlers storming the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque

HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani

The State of Qatar reiterated its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli occupation forces and extremist settlers who stormed the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque days ago, assaulting defenseless worshippers, arresting them, and obstructing their performance of their religious rites, stressing that this is a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and international legitimacy. This came in the statement of the State of Qatar made by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani at the meeting of the UN Security Council on the "Situation in the Middle East, Including the Palestinian Question." The State of Qatar's statement considered that these repeated and systematic practices and attacks against the Palestinian people and the sanctities of Muslims constitute a provocation to the feelings of millions of Muslims, especially as they are repeated in the blessed month of Ramadan. HE stressed that these violations come as a result of the continuous exemption from accountability and the complacency of the international community towards ensuring the rights of the Palestinian people and enforcement of the provisions of international law and United Nations resolutions. The statement reiterated that the attempts to prejudice the existing historical and legal status of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem and to Judaize them, the attempts to divide the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque temporally and spatially, and to undermine the freedom of Muslim prayer in it, are rejected, null and void, as they contradict international law and United Nations resolutions. The statement of the State of Qatar reiterated the role of the historical Hashemite guardianship, which HM King Abdullah II of the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan assumes in protecting the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. The statement also stressed the importance of supporting Al-Quds and the Jerusalemites, referring in this regard to the role of the Al-Quds Committee chaired by HM King Mohammed VI of the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco. In its statement, the State of Qatar urged the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to assume its responsibilities towards protecting the Palestinian people and their religious sanctities and stopping outrageous violations. Additionally, the statement pointed out that the continuous escalation, and the threat it entails to peace, security, and stability, is rooted in the occupation and settlement of the occupied land, obstructing peace. It stressed the need to put an end to it and the unjust practices that accompany it, including the annexation of Palestinian lands without the right, deprivation of their natural resources, the appropriation and demolition of their property and displacement, arbitrary arrests, and the arrest and detention of children. The statement also renewed the State of Qatar's firm support for the steadfastness of the brotherly Palestinian people and their enjoyment of all their legitimate rights and pointed out that the State of Qatar continues to provide humanitarian assistance for the benefit of the Palestinian people, especially to improve living conditions in the Gaza Strip, which is still under the unjust siege. These efforts include a program of financial aid, the supply of fuel and basic building materials, and support to increase electricity generation. In this context, the statement referred to the State of Qatar's funding contribution to the construction of hundreds of housing units that were destroyed during last year's escalation, pointing out that the State of Qatar recently agreed to support UNRWA's basic resources for 2021-2022 with a total of $18 million, stressing the importance of the role of the agency and the need to support it to continue its basic services. The statement also reiterated the firm position of the State of Qatar in support of efforts aimed at settling the Palestinian issue and achieving sustainable peace in the Middle East, stressing that a just, lasting, and comprehensive settlement requires ending the occupation of all occupied Arab lands and settlements, solving the refugee problem, and enjoying the Palestinians' inalienable rights. This includes the right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to the vision of the two-state solution. The statement also stressed that the success of any endeavors to reach this settlement depends on international law, United Nations resolutions, the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative and that it be carried out through negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. At the conclusion of its statement, the State of Qatar expressed its belief that there is still room to make progress towards settlement and overcoming crises in the Middle East, despite the ongoing unfortunate events and repeated escalation. The statement also expressed the belief that the way toward settlement is through dialogue, diplomacy, mediation, and peaceful ways to settle disputes, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, stressing that the country will continue its commitment to support all efforts in that direction.