Occupied Palestinian Territory Discussed at Fourth Committee Continues General Debate – Press Release (GA/SPD/737) (Excerpts)

ALYA AHMED SAIF AL‑THANI (Qatar) said a resolution of the Middle East issue can only be achieved based on international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.  There is an urgent need to end the occupation of all occupied Arab territories, including Lebanese territories and the Syrian Arab Golan.  Noting the need to ensure the right to self‑determination of the Palestinian people on the basis of a two‑State solution, she emphasized that the holy sites cannot be altered.  Detailing violations by Israeli forces that are inconsistent with international law and run counter to a two‑State solution, she highlighted her country’s efforts to support the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, including its allocation for reconstruction and cash assistance projects.  Underlining the important services provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), she noted that Qatar will continue providing support to the Agency.

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KARLITO NUNES (Timor-Leste), recalling that his country was once on the United Nations list of Non‑Self‑Governing Territories, expressed support for the rights of the Sahrawi and Palestinian people to self‑determination and independence, and for the permanent sovereignty over their natural resources.

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SALIM SALIM (Kenya)…Likewise, he said that a durable solution to the question of Palestine can be achieved only through the establishment of a Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel, within mutually agreed borders.  Noting with regret UNRWA’s continued financial difficulties, he called upon the international community to lend its support.

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MATHU JOYINI (South Africa)…Reaffirming South Africa’s support for the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self‑determination, she said Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are daily subjected to laws and practices engineered to impede them from participating in the political system that determines their future.

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YUSNIER ROMERO PUENTES (Cuba),,,He also commended the work of UNRWA and its personnel, describing the United States’ recent recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, international law and Security Council resolutions.

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MOHAMMAD ALI JARDALI (Lebanon)…Turning to the work of UNRWA, he noted that Palestine refugees are becoming more reliant on the Agency for basic services and education, and the Agency requires predictable and stable financing.  As for the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, he observed that the conflict in Gaza in May — the fourth since 2008 — has compounded and aggravated human suffering, leaving almost three quarters of Gaza’s population reliant on food assistance, shelter and health care support.  He also noted ongoing demolition and seizures of Palestinian‑owned buildings, as well as widespread violence and excessive use of force by Israeli Forces and settlers, appealing to the international community to ensure those violations do not continue without accountability.

FEDA ABDELHADY‑NASSER, Deputy Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, said UNRWA continues to create a safety net for the most vulnerable and marginalized Palestine refugees, providing indispensable education, health, relief, social and protection services, as well as emergency assistance against the backdrop of cycles of crisis and a global pandemic.  Turning to the issue of Israeli practices and settlements, she said the long‑standing Israeli occupation is illegal and must end, and the Palestinian people must realize their inalienable right to self‑determination and independence.  “This right is not up for negotiation,” she stressed, adding that no people would ever willingly accept life under perpetual occupation and forsake their rights.  Collective action — in line with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions — is the only way to make Israel want to end this occupation as much as others, she stressed, citing legal action in the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, as well as other lawful countermeasures to confront Israeli violations and compel compliance with the law.

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Right of Reply

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The representative of Israel rejected statements made about her country, noting that some countries continue to politicize the Palestinian agenda.  Noting attempts to hijack yet another discussion of the Committee to propagate biased information against Israel, she described the Palestinian position as rejectionist and expressed hope that a more constructive, forward‑looking approach will be adopted instead.  Israel remains a great partner for peace, she said, requesting the Palestinians to transform their culture of incitement into one of tolerance.

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The representative of Iran said Israel continues to violate the fundamental rights and dignity of the Palestinian people and other Arabs living under its occupation.  Stressing that Palestinians’ rights to self‑determination have been negated, he added that as the international community focuses on mitigating the consequences of COVID‑19, the Israeli regime continues to exploit the current period to accelerate its illegal settlement activities and entrench its military occupation.