UNGA session: Qureshi calls for deployment of global force to protect Palestinians

NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has addressed the emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today where he strongly condemned the atrocities of Israeli forces against Palestinians, ARY News reported on Thursday.

The foreign minister gave Pakistan’s stance on the Palestine issue besides condemning the brutalities and barbaric attacks of Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.

While addressing the UNGA session, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Israel is continuing atrocities against Palestinians and even not being questioned for its crimes. “What we do today, or cannot do, will be recorded in history,” he added.

He said that the number of displaced Palestinians has crossed the 50,000 mark, whereas, children and women are being killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including more than 250 people who lost their lives in the continued attacks of Israeli forces.

Qureshi said the global nations are now needed to act on an important issue. Israel’s air strikes are responsible for the taking of every single life of Abu Hatab’s family including two women and eight children. 10,000 Palestinians have displaced from their homes in Gaza due to the air attacks by Israel, whereas, they are facing an acute shortage of drinkable water, food, hygiene and health facilities.

The foreign minister censured that Israel has not only targeted innocent Palestinians in the air strikes but also flattened buildings housing media offices to suppress the voice. The voice of Palestinian people could never be silenced and it is time to say enough.

Qureshi said that the representatives of Muslim countries have come to support the Palestinians. It is dangerous that the General Assembly has failed to take responsibility for global peace and demand a ceasefire.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged the UN Security Council to fulfil its responsibility amid the humanitarian crisis and not to disappoint the Palestinian people. He added that it should be our top priority to stop Israel from aggression and expressed hopes from UNSC to ask Israel to immediately halt attacks.

He also urged UNGA to raise demand for stopping the attacks against Palestinians if UNSC fails to stop it. There was moral or military equivalence to beleaguered and occupied Palestinian people who have no army, no navy nor air force and Israeli war machine, one of the most powerful in the world. It is the conflict between the occupier and the occupied people and a conflict between illegal occupation and a legitimate struggle for self-determination.

The foreign minister demanded the UNGA to immediately send humanitarian aid to Gaza and other occupied areas of Palestine. He asked the UN secretary-general to appeal emergency aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The provision of food and other essential commodities to the Palestinians must be ensured.

Qureshi also welcomed Egypt for providing access to Gaza for humanitarian assistance besides demanding Israel to open all routes to Gaza.

FM Qureshi demanded UNGA to deploy an international protection force for the Palestinians.

He added that if UNSC fails to agree on it then an alliance could be formed to build consensus. He also demanded at least initiating the monitoring of attacks against Palestinians through civilian observers.

The foreign minister asked UNGA to condemn the displacement of Palestinians and illegal steps for Jewish settlements. He also called for condemnation over attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first Qibla of Muslims across the globe.

FM Qureshi strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on Palestinian worshippers and air strikes on Gaza besides demanding UNGA to objurgate the indiscriminate and barbaric attacks.

He urged UNGA to ensure unconditional implementation of its 1967 resolution and other resolutions for the establishment of Palestinian state. He said Pakistan supports the Palestinian President’s call for an international conference to resolve the Palestine issue.