In a strongly worded speech at the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh yesterday, the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has once again urged the international community to play its part in immediate cessation of Israel’s illegal military operations in Gaza that has killed more than 11000 Palestinians mostly children and women.
As Israeli forces continue to bomb Gaza’s hospitals and shooting people trying to flee those hospitals, Saudi Arabia hosted the extraordinary summit bringing together countries from the Islamic and Arab world to “unify efforts” on Gaza’s worsening situation.
While no strong stance on Israeli aggression came out as a result of the summit, the leaders spoke on bringing an end to humanitarian catastrophe on Palestinians living in Gaza while expressing their dejection over failure of the international community and United Nations Security Council to stop the atrocities on the people of Gaza.
In his powerful speech, the Amir said the international community “has failed to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities and take whatever action necessary to stop war crimes and massacres committed in the name of self-defence, and to put an end to this war of aggression.”
“As our hearts break with pain at the sight of the mass killing of children, women, and the elderly, and the human suffering, we wonder how long will the international community continue to treat Israel as if it is above international law, and how long will it be condoned to flout all international laws in its brutal, never-ending war on the country’s indigenous population.”
“The international world remains immune in front of all these scenes. Who could have imagined that hospitals could be publicly shelled in the 21st century?” he said.
Since the war broke out between Hamas and Israel, Qatar has been making the best possible efforts for de-escalation and the Amir said Qatar is continuously supporting all regional and international diplomatic efforts for de-escalation, stemming the bloodshed, and protecting civilians, including making efforts in humanitarian mediation to release the hostages.
The Amir also reiterated Qatar’s demand of permanent and safe humanitarian corridors “for an unhindered and unconditional delivery of aid to those affected and afflicted, stressing the need to make the aid accessible to all parts of the Gaza Strip. “This is the weakest level of faith, and the least that we can all do,” he said.
The Amir appreciated the effort of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and H R H Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister in hosting the crucial summit to raise voice for innocent Palestinians.
