The State of Qatar has called on all countries and international organizations to refuse recognition or support for Israel’s illegal practices. This stance underscores the necessity of adhering to international law, as reflected in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Her Excellency Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivered this message during the 10th Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. The session discussed the ICJ’s advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), including East Jerusalem.
Sheikha Alia reiterated Qatar’s endorsement of the ICJ’s opinion, emphasizing Israel’s obligation to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. She pointed out that the ICJ’s opinion acknowledges the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip as a single territorial unit, whose unity and integrity must be preserved.
Calling for the immediate and unconditional activation of the ICJ’s opinion, Sheikha Alia stressed that supporting the Palestinian draft resolution is a humanitarian, moral, and legal duty. She welcomed the resumption of the emergency special session to discuss this historic resolution, which aims to address the consequences of Israeli practices and the illegality of the occupation. She noted that the draft resolution aligns with the United Nations’ historical responsibility towards the Palestinian cause and the need to resolve it under international law and UN resolutions.
Sheikha Alia also congratulated the Palestinian people on their right to participate fully in the UN, expressing hope that this would lead to full membership for Palestine, which meets the criteria stipulated in Article 4 of the UN Charter.
Amid ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, which has resulted in over 41,000 deaths and the displacement of about two million people, Sheikha Alia reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to mediation efforts alongside Egypt and the United States. She expressed hope that these efforts would lead to an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of prisoners, continuous humanitarian aid, and the protection of civilians, paving the way for a comprehensive political solution in line with the ICJ’s advisory opinion.
Her Excellency concluded by reiterating Qatar’s steadfast support for the justice of the Palestinian cause, the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, the recognition of the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return.
