New York 16 October 2023 : Ambassador Usman Jadoon delivered a statement under Agenda Item 59, which addresses the “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources.” He expressed Pakistan’s deep concern regarding the severe security and humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory resulting from Israeli actions that are in violation of international law. Ambassador Jadoon urged the international community to collaborate in achieving a just, comprehensive, and enduring two-state solution, which would entail the establishment of a viable, sovereign, and territorially continuous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Madam Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Cuba on behalf of G-77 and China. Pakistan welcomes the Secretary-General’s report on this item, prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. Sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security, and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. The report vividly illuminates the impact of the repressive Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. The report underlines that the military occupation by Israel of Palestinian territory, undermine the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and sovereignty encroach on Palestinian land and natural resources.
Highlighting the excessive use of force and unlawful killingby Israeli security forces, the report further states that “during the reporting period, 257 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces and settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and another 10,560 Palestinian were injured. One of the victims of Israeli use of force was notable veteran journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, shot while covering a military raid on the Jenin refugee camp on 11 May 2022. The conclusion of the Secretary-General’s Report are particularly poignant at this grave moment for the Palestinian people, especially the people of Gaza.
Pakistan remains deeply concerned about the alarming and dire security and humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory as a result of illegal Israeli practices. The electricity, fuel and water supplies to Gaza have been cut off. More than 1 million Palestinians in Gaza and its surroundings have been asked to move to the south of the territory amid continuous air bombings. These actions are in flagrant breach of international law including international humanitarian law, as well as in grave violation of relevant UN resolutions. These Israeli actions amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Madam Chair, Pakistan demands that Israel should fulfill its obligations as an occupying power under international law, lift the blockade and allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. The unprecedented gravity of the situation demands urgent intervention by the international community. We urge the United Nations to play a proactive role in facilitating a ceasefire to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The Palestinian people need protection, immediate and urgent humanitarian aid, and an end of the mass displacement.
Pakistan is providing humanitarian assistance to the besieged and helpless Palestinian people. We are actively exploring avenues for reaching the needy population in Gaza with essential supplies. The international community must work in concert for a just, comprehensive and lasting two-state solution with a viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Sub Editor: Ghufran