<\/p>\n
(Below are the excerpts of the Committee meeting related to the Question of Palestine)<\/em><\/p>\n SEVENTY-EIGHTH SESSION, 26TH & 27TH MEETINGS (AM & PM)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Yesterday\u2019s attack on the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, which resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths, is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, delegates told the Third Committee\u00a0(Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today, as they also engaged in a series of interactive dialogues on the right to education, cultural rights and the impact of climate change on persons with albinism.<\/p>\n During their general debate, numerous delegates condemned the recent attack on the hospital in Gaza and called for unimpeded and safe humanitarian access.<\/p>\n The observer for the State of Palestine said that, for 11\u00a0days, the world has witnessed epic human suffering, with Israel brutally killing over 3,000\u00a0people in the Gaza Strip \u2014 over half of them women and children.\u00a0 \u201cIsrael has not spared a single Palestinian family in Gaza,\u201d bombing them in their homes, she said.\u00a0 Those who are not injured are displaced, and those who thought they found safety in Al-Ahli Hospital were massacred.<\/p>\n \u201cHospitals must be sanctuaries to preserve human lives, not scenes of death and destruction,\u201d said Ecuador\u2019s delegate, emphasizing that respect for international humanitarian law is an imperative of the international community.<\/p>\n Echoing that sentiment, Bolivia\u2019s delegate condemned \u201cthe atrocious genocide being conducted against Palestinians in Gaza at this very moment\u201d, with children, women and older persons suffering injustice and human rights violations.<\/p>\n Kuwait\u2019s delegate called on the intranational community to condemn \u201cthe brutal shelling of the hospital in Gaza\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIsrael must immediately stop its collective punishment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,\u201d said the representative of Egypt, condemning Israel\u2019s bombing of the hospital in Gaza City.\u00a0 She categorically rejected attempts to enforce displacement of Palestinians to neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n The representative of the Russian Federation, speaking in exercise of the right of reply, said the blame for the deaths of hundreds of people in the Al-Ahli Hospital is in part with the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan, countries that on Monday blocked the adoption of the purely humanitarian draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s delegate, firmly condemning recent terror attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants, noted that \u201cattacks against hospitals or civilians cannot be justified on any ground\u201d.<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s delegate condemned the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas across Israel and expressed horror about the attack on the fully operational Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.\u00a0 Adding to that, Canada\u2019s delegate underscored the need to free all hostages immediately and unconditionally and ensure that all parties fully respect international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n The youth delegate of Israel recalled the Hamas terrorist attacks, which resulted in numerous murdered and wounded.\u00a0 \u201cIsrael is in a war against a terror organization called Hamas, she said \u2014 not citizens, not individuals.\u201d\u00a0 Noting Israel\u2019s right to self-defence, she called for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and warned against Hamas\u2019 politicization of the events.\u00a0 In the afternoon, the Committee heard from Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, who reported that, to achieve the goal of providing primary and secondary education for all by\u00a02030, 68.8\u00a0million more teachers are needed.\u00a0 States must ensure the right of everyone to inclusive, equitable and quality education, and guarantee internationally recognized rights of teachers, encompassing, inter alia, the right to work, adequate remuneration, decent working conditions and academic freedom.\u00a0 Additionally, States should allocate a sufficient proportion of the national budget for education and ensure that the money is used effectively and equitably to guarantee education for all, she underlined, calling for meaningful participation of teachers in educational decision-making and reforms through robust dialogue.<\/p>\n Also briefing the Committee today was Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, who highlighted the profound impact of climate change on persons with albinism, particularly on their right to life.\u00a0 Highlighting the disproportionate impact of climate change-related disasters and extreme weather events on persons with albinism, she said that, due to forcible displacement, they fall under the category of \u201cclimate migrants\u201d.\u00a0 In Africa, persons with albinism are up to 1,000\u00a0times more likely to develop skin cancer than those without albinism, while 98\u00a0per\u00a0cent of them have died by the age of\u00a040.\u00a0 This can be effectively prevented by using proper sunscreen, which, however, is often out of the reach of many due its cost.<\/p>\n Statements<\/u><\/p>\n Ms. CARMELI, youth delegate of\u00a0Israel<\/u>, recalled her experience living on the Kerem Shalom kibbutz close to Gaza, where her bedroom was in a bomb shelter.\u00a0 Recalling sirens sounding as indiscriminate rocket shelling came from Gaza \u2014 common in the past 18 years since Israel disengaged from Gaza \u2014 she said she chose to live there anyway, choosing life over terror.\u00a0 This past Saturday, terror chose the kibbutz, she continued, recalling the Hamas terrorist attacks resulting in numerous murdered and wounded people as well as 200 taken hostage.\u00a0 \u201cIsrael is in a war against a terror organization called Hamas, she said \u2014 not citizens, not individuals.\u201d\u00a0 She expressed grave concern for the kidnapped, noting that they are denied their most basic rights.\u00a0 She urged the international community to unequivocally condemn Hamas, call for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and support Israel\u2019s right to defend itself, and she warned against Hamas\u2019 politicization of events.<\/p>\n HEBA MOSTAFA MOSTAFA RIZK (Egypt<\/u>), associating herself with the Arab Group and the Non-Aligned Movement, condemned Israel\u2019s bombing of the hospital in Gaza City.\u00a0 \u201cIsrael must immediately stop its collective punishment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,\u201d she said, adding that Egypt categorically rejects attempts to enforce displacement of Palestinians to neighbouring countries in contravention of the right to self-determination and rights of return.\u00a0 She also expressed concern about limitations in some countries that champion democracy on the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, as well as inaction towards campaigns of misinformation and disinformation and falsified media reports.\u00a0\u201cIt is regrettable to see an escalation in this discourse, talking about double standards and denying the universality of human rights,\u201d she stressed, noting the increase in hate speech and xenophobia against Muslim communities and other religious minorities.<\/p>\n Mr. ALDAIKAN (Kuwait<\/u>) said that the brutal shelling of the hospital in Gaza was a flagrant violation of international law that the international community must condemn.\u00a0Reaffirming Kuwait\u2019scommitment to respect human rights, he said that Islam enshrines the principles of equality and justice, while his country\u2019s Constitution emphasizes the importance of education and health care without discrimination based on origin, language or sex.\u00a0 The Government will establish a national office for human rights, focusing on respect for public and private rights without contradicting Sharia law.\u00a0 He also highlighted the leadership role of women in Parliament as they achieve the trust of voters.\u00a0 In light of extraordinary and transitional threats resulting from new technologies and climate change, there is no path forward except for multilateral action, he said.<\/p>\n ABDULAZIZ M. ALWASIL (Saudi Arabia<\/u>) urged the restoration of the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination, including an independent State with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions. \u00a0Saudi Arabia categorically rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and firmly condemns the crime perpetrated by Israeli forces that bombarded the hospital in Gaza, resulting in hundreds of casualties.\u00a0 This is a serious development, he said, calling out the international community\u2019s double standards.\u00a0 He called on Israel to immediately lift its siege of Gaza and to open humanitarian corridors as soon as possible.<\/p>\n JOAN MARGARITA CEDANO (Dominican Republic<\/u>) said her country has actively promoted human rights through the creation of an inter-institutional Human Rights Commission, which seeks to safeguard human rights defenders and maintain a cross-cutting policy within the country\u2019s governance.\u00a0 In addition, the Dominican Republic has policies on gender, climate change and territorial integrity, as well as an ombudsman whose essential task is to ensure the functioning of public administration.\u00a0 Her country has a plan with guidelines from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, focusing on the following strategic areas: \u00a0civil-political rights; economic and sociocultural rights; human rights and the environment; rights of persons in vulnerable situations; and implementation of international standards.<\/p>\n RICHARD ARBEITER (Canada<\/u>) said women\u2019s and girls\u2019 rights are under attack in Afghanistan and that the situation is grim for them in Iran.\u00a0 \u201cCanada will continue to stand up for their rights and the rights of all marginalized individuals and communities wherever they are threatened,\u201d he emphasized.\u00a0\u201cRecognition of the inherent dignity of LGBTI persons is growing steadily,\u201d he also noted, applauding those who have eliminated discriminatory laws.\u00a0 Turning to the situation in the Middle East, he underscored the need to free all hostages immediately and unconditionally and ensure that all parties fully respect international humanitarian law.\u00a0 He further expressed support for the Sudanese people in their appeal for a democratic transition by civilians.\u00a0 \u201cThe response to all of these challenges is not to run away from them or pretend that they are politicized,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n J\u00d6RUNDUR\u00a0VALT\u00ddSSON (Iceland<\/u>), expressing concern about the\u00a0growing number of civilian deaths and the strike on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, as well as the risk of further escalation, stressed the need for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. \u00a0Human rights are a key pillar of Iceland’s foreign and development policy, he said, describing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a milestone document and a guiding light.\u00a0 However, \u201cmany of the basic rights we thought had been secured and accepted\u201d are in danger, he said, noting that violent nationalism and racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, are on the rise, while homophobia and transphobia are increasing.\u00a0 Calling on the international community to stand up for the values of democracy, he said that is a primary motivation for Iceland\u2019s decision to seek a seat on the Human Rights Council for the term 2025 to 2027.<\/p>\n ONO\u00a0SHO\u00a0(Japan<\/u>), firmly condemning recent terror attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants, demanded the early release of hostages.\u00a0 At the same time, yesterday, Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City was attacked, resulting in numerous casualties, he recalled, stressing that \u201cattacks against hospitals or civilians cannot be justified on any ground\u201d.\u00a0 It is crucial to minimize the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and ensure humanitarian access in the area.\u00a0 Japan will provide emergency humanitarian aid of $10\u00a0million in total for citizens in the Gaza Strip through international organizations.\u00a0Furthermore, he strongly urged the Russian Federation to end its violations of human rights and the UN Charter immediately.\u00a0 In Myanmar, he warned against the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation, urging its military to take concrete actions to immediately stop the violence.\u00a0 He also voiced concern about the lack of improvement in the human rights situation in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n MARWA\u00a0JABOU BESSADOK (Tunisia<\/u>) urged the international community to condemn violations against Palestinians in occupied lands, including the violation of the right to life and international humanitarian laws.\u00a0 Noting the attack on a civilian hospital in Gaza on 17\u00a0October, she asked:\u00a0\u201cHow we can we talk about human rights in light of all these continued violations with total impunity and no deterrence?\u201d\u00a0 The situation in Palestine is a true test of international human rights law, she said, emphasizing that all forms of terrorism must be condemned, with no link to any specific nationality, religion, culture or civilization in any State.<\/p>\n GOLIBJON\u00a0GULOV (Tajikistan<\/u>), condemning the attack on the Al-Ahli Hospital, said that civil facilities such as hospitals should be safe places for people under all conditions.\u00a0\u00a0Calling for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue to stabilize the situation, he said that the protection of human rights is a priority for his country.\u00a0Noting the many international human rights instruments Tajikistan has acceded to since gaining independence, he added that State institutions are gradually taking steps to implement relevant norms.\u00a0 Highlighting some concrete measures to protect the rights of children and prevent discrimination against women, he said that the Constitution guarantees the enjoyment of freedom for all, regardless of nationality, race, sex, religion, political beliefs and social status.<\/p>\n SAHAR K.H.\u00a0SALEM, observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, said that, for 11\u00a0days, the world has witnessed Israel brutally killing over 3,000\u00a0people in the Gaza Strip \u2014 over half of them women and children \u2014 by direct strikes.\u00a0\u201cIsrael has not spared a single Palestinian family in Gaza,\u201d she said.\u00a0 Those who are not injured are displaced, and those who thought they found safety in Al-Ahli Hospital were massacred.\u00a0 \u201cDoes this make Israel feel more secure now [\u2026] does this fulfill the need for unconditional support for Israel?\u201d she asked, noting that reports from the UN show that families have been bombed in their homes.\u00a0 Following an evacuation order, they are scrambling for safety with nowhere to go, she said, adding that entire neighborhoods have been razed to the ground, including schools and UN buildings.\u00a0 There is no power, no water, no fuel, and food supplies are running low, she said, emphasizing that \u201cmorgues are overflowing\u201d and bodies are buried in mass graves.\u00a0 Worse, Israel has ordered the evacuation of 22\u00a0hospitals, which the World Health Organization\u00a0(WHO) has labelled a death sentence for the sick and injured.\u00a0 Some 2\u00a0million people live in Gaza, half of them children, but Israel is bombing it as if civilians deserve to be killed.\u00a0 This mass destruction must not be seen as so-called collateral damage, she stressed, noting that it is inhumane and undermines the rules of an international law-based order.\u00a0 She called on the international community to stand against Israel\u2019s crimes and stop the epic human suffering. \u00a0\u201cJustice \u2014 not vengeance\u201d deserves your support, she said.<\/p>\n DIEGO\u00a0PARY RODR\u00cdGUEZ (Bolivia<\/u>), aligning himself with the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations, condemned \u201cthe atrocious genocide being conducted against Palestinians in Gaza at this very moment\u201d.\u00a0 Children, women and older persons are suffering injustice and human rights violations there while also being deprived of basic services and food.\u00a0 Further, he highlighted the importance of the draft resolution on the right to development and welcomed general comment No.\u00a026 on the rights of the child, with special attention to climate change, adopted by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, and general comment No.\u00a039 on the rights of indigenous women and girls, adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which provides guidelines for States to tackle all forms of discrimination against them.<\/p>\n \u0130SMAIL\u00a0AYDI\u0307L\u00a0(T\u00fcrkiye<\/u>) said that his country is deeply concerned about the rise of xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia in the world and the ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine.\u00a0 \u201cWe strongly condemn the loss of civilian lives and call on the parties for de-escalation,\u201d he said, reiterating calls for restraint and avoidance of any actions that might worsen the situation.\u00a0 Indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza are unacceptable.\u00a0 An immediate ceasefire is urgently needed and the international community must step in to facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid.\u00a0 T\u00fcrkiye remains committed to Ukraine\u2019s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the protection of civilians, he said, adding that the situation of the Crimean Tatar Turks remains a priority.\u00a0 He also spotlighted the rights of the Uyghur Turks and other Muslim minorities in China, the Rohingya in Myanmar, women and girls in Afghanistan, and millions of people in Syrian.<\/p>\n ANTJE\u00a0LEENDERTSE (Germany<\/u>), aligning herself with the\u00a0European Union, said aggression continues to be among the greatest threat to human rights.\u00a0 Condemning the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas across Israel and expressing horror about the attack on the fully operational Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, she also voiced concern about the Russian Federation\u2019s continued war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.\u00a0 Respect for freedoms of expression, assembly and association are crucial in creating strong and resilient societies, she said, noting that the protection of human rights defenders from repression and reprisal is key.\u00a0Repression and violation of human rights cannot be considered as internal matters of sovereignty, as they affect international obligations and because their effects transcend borders, she stressed.\u00a0 Her delegation will be co-facilitating the resolution on the human rights to water and sanitation as well as the resolution on national human rights institutions.\u00a0 Highlighting the historic and moral responsibility associated with past injustice, she said Germany is committed to constructive dialogue with countries seeking the return of cultural artifacts.<\/p>\n ANDR\u00c9S EFREN MONTALVO SOSA (Ecuador<\/u>) sounded alarm over destruction of the hospital in Gaza, where hundreds were murdered.\u00a0\u201cHospitals must be sanctuaries to preserve human lives, not scenes of death and destruction,\u201d he asserted, adding that respect for international humanitarian law is an imperative of the international community.\u00a0 He reiterated his Government\u2019s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights through specific actions, including those aimed at strengthening multilateralism.\u00a0 Voicing support for human rights mechanisms, including those on eradication of poverty, malnutrition, gender-based violence and climate change, he said that, at the local level, Ecuador is working with OHCHR to protect human rights.\u00a0 Dealing with all facets of migration, Ecuador has measures for safe, orderly and responsible migration, tackling networks and illicit trafficking of migrants.<\/p>\n ANDY\u00a0ARON\u00a0(Indonesia<\/u>), aligning with ASEAN, said his country stands in firm solidarity with the Palestinian people.\u00a0He condemned the implementation of a collective punishment policy by the occupying Power in Gaza, where horrifying attacks against civilian facilities, including hospitals, have resulted in the tragic loss of at least 500\u00a0lives.\u00a0 \u201cThese acts not only go against every grain of humanity, but also defied the very essence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,\u201d he said.\u00a0Indonesia calls for an urgent immediate ceasefire to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in dire need.\u00a0With ASEAN, Indonesia is committed to fostering dialogue to enhance cooperation for the enduring promotion and protection of human rights.\u00a0 Domestically, Indonesia remains equally resolute in its commitment.\u00a0 One significant milestone towards acknowledging historical injustice and fostering reconciliation came earlier this year when Indonesia’s President acknowledged past rights violations.<\/p>\n Interactive Dialogues \u2013 Right to Education<\/u><\/p>\n In the afternoon, the Committee further elaborated on the theme \u201cPromotion and protection of human rights\u201d, with interactive dialogues featuring presentations by:\u00a0 Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; and Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism.<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n