Solidarity Day – 27 Nov. 2020 Daily Press Briefing – (Excerpts)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE U.N. SYSTEM
FRIDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2020

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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
Sunday, 29 November, is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This year, the Day will be observed at the United Nations on 1 December with special meetings.

In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the Palestinian economy and undermined the already fragile humanitarian, economic and political situation in Gaza, further entrenched by crippling restrictions on movement and access.

He said that prospects for a viable two-State solution are growing more distant, pointing to a host
of factors which continue to cause great misery, including: the expansion of illegal settlements, a significant spike in the demolition of Palestinian homes and structures, violence and continued militant activity.

The Secretary-General said that he remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict and end the occupation in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements in pursuit of the vision of two States.

He also expressed his extreme concern over the financial situation facing the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), appealing to all Member States for urgent contributions to allow it to meet the critical humanitarian and development needs of Palestine refugees during the pandemic.

At UN Headquarters in New York on 1 December, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will convene high-level officials of Member States, the Secretary-General, intergovernmental organizations and representatives of civil society.

The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will also launch the virtual exhibit entitled “The Writing is on the Wall: Annexation Past and Present.” The exhibition will examine the plight of the Palestinian people, focusing on the wall built in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It will explore this through the words of advocates and public personalities, and through images from artists and human rights activists who have utilized the wall as a canvas to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The events will be broadcast live on UN Web TV and the exhibit will be available on the United Nations’ website.