UN committee observes solidarity day, urges action for Palestinian rights, peace

​​​​​​​By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held a special meeting Tuesday to observe the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which falls on Friday.

"Today we once more gather to observe International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, not as a mere commemoration, but as a solemn reminder of unfulfilled promises, denied rights and the historic injustice," said Committee chair Cheikh Niang.

Stating that this year's commemoration takes place amid unprecedented suffering and tragedy, Niang, who is Senegal’s UN envoy, said: "The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people remain unrealized, including their right to self-determination, a right owed to all peoples on earth."

"We urgently call on the international community to take decisive action to end Israel's occupation to ensure accountability for protectors, deliver justice for the victims, and uphold the long overdue liberal rights of the Palestinian people," he added.

General Assembly President Philemon Yang said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be resolved through force, endless occupation or annexation.

"The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only end when both Israelis and Palestinians are able to live side by side in their own independent states, in peace, security and dignity," said the president.

"We must restore hope, and some Palestinians hope that a better future is possible, and trust in the United Nations and its commitments, we can start building that future here today by demanding a cease-fire, an immediate return of the hostages, and the commencement of negotiations towards a long, lasting peace," Yang said.

Barbara Woodward, the UK's envoy to the UN, said a lasting and comprehensive solution in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means.

She said the international community needs to redouble efforts to support a cease-fire, release all hostages and take urgent action to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis and work toward the realization of a two-state solution to the conflict.

"We reiterate our unwavering commitment two-state solution and undermine the need to put in place urgent steps to revitalize a political pathway towards its realization," said Woodward.

Amina Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the UN, conveyed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ message, saying the international community stands in solidarity for the dignity, rights, justice and self-determination of the Palestinians.

"This year's commemoration is especially painful, as those fundamental goals are as distant as they have ever been," said Mohammed.

- Call for international intervention to stop Gaza tragedy

She said nothing justifies the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas in Israel and nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

"Yet, more than a year later, Gaza is in ruins. More than 44,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been reportedly killed and the humanitarian crisis is getting worse by the day," said Mohammed, who called it "appalling" and "inexcusable".

For his part, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian permanent observer to the UN, read a message from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who said urgent international intervention is needed to stop the tragedy in Gaza, which he said is taking place before the eyes and ears of the world.

"The international community has declared this international day in support of the rights of our people, foremost their right to self-determination and the independence of their state, which necessitates taking practical and dramatic steps to the dangers that are threatening millions of lives and the possibility of achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy," it said.

Abbas demanded suspending Israel's membership in the UN because of its refusal to abide by international law and obligations, and due to its insistence on continuing its crimes against the Palestinian people.

"At the same time, it's imperative to reject Israel's plans to separate Gaza from the West Bank, including Jerusalem, to diminish the state of Palestine's responsibility," said Abbas.

He said Israel needs to stop its settlement and occupation, killings, settler terrorism, attacks on the holy sites and the attempts to alter the legal status quo as well as raids on cities, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests in Palestine.

"Once again, I reiterate that the occupation will end and Palestinian rights will prevail no matter how long it takes," the message concludes.

In 1977, the UN General Assembly called for the annual observance on Nov. 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted a resolution on the partition of Palestine into two states, one Arab and one Jewish.