Shura Council Speaker Affirms Qatar's Firm Position in Support of Palestinian Cause

Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim

HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim affirmed the State of Qatar's firm and supportive position towards the Palestinian cause, stressing the rejection of all attempts aimed at liquidating it, whether through displacement projects, settlement expansion, or imposing solutions that detract from the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

This came in the speech delivered by His Excellency during the 7th conference of the Arab Parliament and the Presidents of Arab Councils and Parliaments that was held in Cairo today. It is jointly organized by the Arab Parliament and the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union to discuss ways to provide parliamentary support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and enhance joint Arab parliamentary action to confront regional and international challenges.

His Excellency said that the continued suffering of the Palestinians, in light of an aggression that disregarded international laws and international legitimacy resolutions, requires more decisive Arab and international action to confront these crimes and provide international protection for the Palestinians.

His Excellency pointed to the diplomatic efforts made by the State of Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in cooperation with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States, to reach a ceasefire agreement, exchange prisoners, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, despite the obstacles and challenges faced by these efforts.

HE the Speaker of the Shura Council stressed that Qatar, out of its national and humanitarian responsibilities, continued to play its effective diplomatic role to find a just and comprehensive solution that ensures the end of the suffering of the Palestinians and the cessation of the ongoing Israeli aggression, stressing the need to force the occupation government to implement international agreements and hold the international community responsible for any violations or attempts to breach these agreements.

In this context, His Excellency referred to Article 7 of the Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar that affirmed the fundamental principles governing the country's foreign policy, most notably supporting just causes, consolidating international peace and security, and resolving disputes through peaceful means through mediation and dialogue, which led to the success of many mediations that contributed to achieving regional peace and enhancing dialogue between the conflicting parties.

In a related context, His Excellency condemned the irresponsible Israeli statements regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state on the lands of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, considering this a flagrant violation of international laws and an unacceptable attempt to legitimize displacement and change the demographic composition of the region.

HE the Speaker of the Shura Council also stressed the rejection of any attempts to impose unilateral solutions that ignore the historical and sovereign rights of the Palestinian people.

His Excellency stressed that the Arab consensus is firm in rejecting any attempts to resettle the Palestinians or liquidate their cause, noting that the unified Arab position is based on the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim denounced the role played by the Knesset in the Israeli entity in legislating illegal settlements and issuing laws that provide legal cover for the serious violations committed against the Palestinians, calling on international parliamentary unions and regional parliamentary organizations to take a clear and firm position towards these policies, and to work to suspend the Knesset's membership in the Inter-Parliamentary Union, considering it an institution that does not respect international laws or the basic principles governing parliamentary work.

His Excellency also noted the ongoing Israeli attempts to undermine the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), stressing that this reflects the occupation's intention to obliterate the rights of the Palestinians, not just deny them.

Regarding the catastrophic humanitarian conditions experienced by the Palestinians, His Excellency pointed to the ongoing crimes committed by the occupation forces, especially in the Gaza Strip, which have led to the martyrdom and injury of more than 160,000 Palestinians, most of whom are children and women, in addition to the massive destruction that has affected all aspects of life, stressing the need for urgent action to reconstruction without imposing any measures aimed at displacing the population or changing the demographic reality of the Strip. 

HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim said that supporting the steadfastness of the Palestinians is not limited to the political aspect only, but also includes organized parliamentary efforts to confront the occupation policies, work on preparing documented reports that reveal Israeli violations, and mobilize regional and international support to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable before international courts.

His Excellency also praised the Arab efforts to enhance solidarity and Arab unity, most notably the steps that contributed to the return of the Syrian Arab Republic to its Arab surroundings, considering that this represents a key element in enhancing security and stability in the region, and enabling Arab countries to face common challenges.

In this context, he referred to the visit of HH the Amir to Damascus, stressing that it is a step that reflects Qatar's commitment to devoting joint Arab action and strengthening rapprochement between Arab countries in a way that serves their stability and unity.

At the end of his speech, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council expressed his confidence that the conference's unified parliamentary vision to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, reject displacement and annexation plans, and confront attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause will contribute to strengthening the joint Arab action to protect Palestinian rights, mobilize international support, and intensify humanitarian aid.

His Excellency also stressed that this vision will form a solid foundation for parliamentary efforts supporting the cause, and will support the unified Arab position in regional and international forums, ensuring that the voice of truth and justice is conveyed to the entire world.

The conference saw the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Arab Parliament and the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and joint coordination between the two sides in a way that serves Arab issues and achieves the aspirations of the Arab peoples.

At the end of the conference, the participants adopted an Arab parliamentary document that emphasized the Arab constants in supporting the Palestinian cause.

The document also stressed the need for effective Arab parliamentary action to support the rights of the Palestinian people, mobilize international support, and enhance humanitarian aid.

The document is scheduled to be submitted to Their Majesties, Highnesses, and Excellencies leaders of the Arab countries, during the upcoming Arab Summit.

On the sidelines of the conference, HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim met with HE Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Iraq Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, where they discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them.

(QNA)