New york: The Arab Group at the United Nations has issued a strong condemnation of Israel's illegal settlement expansion policies in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Group expressed its complete rejection of the E1 settlement plan and related activities in occupied East Jerusalem, labeling them as violations of international law and United Nations Resolution 2334, as well as contraventions of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. It urged the Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities by ensuring adherence to international law and the implementation of relevant resolutions to halt these violations.
According to Union of OIC News Agencies, the statement was delivered by Her Excellency Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during a monthly Security Council briefing on the Middle East situation, including the Palestinian question. She emphasized that the Palestinian issue remains central to peace in the Middle East, asserting that a just and lasting peace cannot be achieved without ending the Israeli occupation and recognizing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and statehood based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital.
The Arab Group condemned the ongoing Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territory, including settlement expansion, land confiscation, and settler violence. It rejected measures aimed at entrenching occupation or imposing Israeli sovereignty over any part of the territory, citing these as violations of international law and Security Council Resolution 2334.
Regarding the Gaza Strip, Her Excellency criticized Israel's rejection of a roadmap to resolve the conflict, endorsed by Security Council Resolution 2803, and the establishment of a Palestinian state. She noted that the roadmap, supported by various international mediators, aims to limit weapons, withdraw Israeli forces, and facilitate reconstruction in Gaza.
The Arab Group highlighted the urgent need for the roadmap's implementation to address humanitarian challenges, ensure stability, and facilitate peace based on Palestinian self-determination. It also condemned the escalation of settler violence in the West Bank and called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for these actions.
The Group reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian Authority and condemned actions undermining it, including financial measures against it. It also criticized Israeli attempts to alter the identity and status of Jerusalem, emphasizing the need for international action to stop these practices.
Her Excellency stressed the importance of supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and condemned Israeli violations against the agency, including the storming of its facilities. The Arab Group called on the international community to back UNRWA in fulfilling its mandate.