The Palestinian cause was thrust into sharp focus at a major forum as Palestinian National Council Speaker Rawhi Fatooh delivered a powerful address condemning Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza and the occupied territories.
He said the Palestinian people were enduring a ‘full-fledged political and humanitarian crime’, warning that the credibility of the international community was being tested by its response.
He made the remarks while addressing around 190 parliamentarians and officials from 27 countries at the 16th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) in Manama yesterday.
“At this pivotal moment in our history, our people are facing killing, destruction and siege,” Mr Fatooh said.
“Civilians and infrastructure are systematically targeted in Gaza, attacks are escalating in the West Bank and settlement activity continues at an alarming pace, in blatant violation of international law.”
Gaza has been reduced to rubble in the war that was triggered by an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.
The Gaza health ministry says more than 71,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed by Israeli fire since then. It says that at least 480 people were killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire agreement came into effect last October.
Mr Fatooh stressed that the crisis was the direct result of continued occupation and the absence of serious international pressure on Israel to fulfil its obligations.
He called on the international community to assume its ‘legal, political and moral responsibilities’, demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to all forms of collective punishment against the Palestinian people.
Mr Fatooh also highlighted what he described as positive international momentum, noting that 160 countries now recognise the State of Palestine, calling it ‘an undeniable political reality that strengthens our legal standing on the global stage’.
He also welcomed the recent UN meeting sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, praising French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for their efforts to revive the political process based on the two-state solution.
Mr Fatooh clarified that the formation of the Gaza Administration Committee was strictly humanitarian and temporary.
“It carries no political character and does not replace Palestinian legitimacy,” he said. “Its sole purpose is to improve living conditions and help our people recover from the catastrophic consequences of this war.”
He reaffirmed that Gaza remains an integral part of the Palestinian state, alongside the West Bank and East Jerusalem, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas and stressed that only a complete end to occupation would bring lasting peace.
“Partial solutions will not end our suffering,” he said. “True stability lies in ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Earlier, Mr Fatooh thanked Bahrain’s leadership and people for hosting the session, paying tribute to His Majesty King Hamad for the warm hospitality and organisation of the event.
READ MORE:
&uuid=(email))