The gravity of the situation in the Middle East and complexity of crisis is aggravating and time has come to respect the international law, international humanitarian law and human rights.
The new popular uprising has engulfed some Arab nations forcing a regime change in Sudan, resignation of Prime Minister of Lebanon, while in Iraq demonstrations are continuing in several towns demanding reforms and end of corruption. Last month, the ballot box result in Tunisia brought to power a president from outside the ruling parties in gesture of rejection to the persisting situation and lack of improvement in people’s living conditions.
Along the acceleration of conflicts in Syria, Libya and Yemen, the miserable situation of the Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza Strip under the Israeli military occupation and the humanitarian situation seems to be forgotten by the international community. Where are the Security Council and the international community which were supposed to shoulder responsibilities and take the necessary measures to stop the violations against the Palestinians and alleviate tensions in the region?
In its monthly report, the Department of Palestinian Affairs recently stated that the Israeli occupation forces arrested 484 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in last September, noting that between those detainees there were 50 children, 4 women, 7 university students, a minister and 5 soldiers.
According to the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN, Ambassador H E Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, the State of Qatar has not stood idly out of its concern towards achieving peace and stability in the Middle East, and has continued tireless and concrete efforts amid the obstacles facing the peace process between Palestinian and Israel. The State of Qatar is working with the UN agencies to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza by providing support to improve basic services like electricity, relief projects and temporary employment projects for graduates and workers. Qatar allocated this year of $480m to strengthen the Palestinian Authority’s budget and provide humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip.
On this, Sheikha Alya stressed the importance of taking the international community its responsibility to end the Arab-Israeli conflict which she said is a prerequisite for restoring stability and peace in the Middle East. End the tragedy of the Palestinian people and enabling them to get their rights and achieve their legitimate aspirations, will be achieved only according to the criteria and foundations agreed upon by the international community.
This includes ending of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories and acceptance of a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent and viable State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital
