Ban Ki-moon and HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah addressing the press conference in Doha.
By Salman Siddiqui
Qatar and its leadership are vital to regional efforts to resolve the Gaza crisis, which demands an immediate and just solution, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday.
Addressing a packed late evening press conference alongside Foreign Minister HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah , the top UN official said he had arrived in the Middle East with a “very heavy heart”.
Ban Ki-moon said he met with HH the Emir earlier in the day and also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after the press conference.
About his meeting with HH the Emir, he said: “Qatar and its leadership are vital to regional efforts to resolve the crisis. That conviction was reinforced in the extremely productive meeting which I just had with HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. I want to thank HH the Emir and Minister al-Attiyah for all they are doing to end the fighting.”
He said that Gaza was an open wound, whose bleeding must be stopped now.
“Too many innocent civilians are dying. Too many women and children are the victims of appalling attacks. Too many people are living in constant fear of the next missile, the next air strike, the next rocket attack.”
He said when he was en route to Doha, he learnt that dozens more civilians, including children, were killed in Israeli military strikes in the Shejaiya neighbourhood in Gaza.
“I condemn this atrocious action. Israel must exercise maximum restraint and do far more to protect civilians. I repeat my demand to all sides that they must respect international humanitarian law. The violence must stop now.”
HE al-Attiyah strongly condemned all aggressive Israeli actions against the Palestinian people. “We call on the international community to stop the Israeli aggression against Palestinians; we ask them to provide Palestinians with assistance and aid. We want the international community to enable the freedom of movement of Palestinian people that would eventually pave the way for a political solution,” the foreign minister said.
He said that Qatar wanted to meet the expectations of justice for the Palestinian people. HE Dr al-Attiyah also said that innocent Palestinian children were being massacred and added that it was the legal responsibility of Israel to safeguard civilians under the Geneva conventions for human rights.
The foreign minister also said Qatar was consulting many countries about the crisis.
Ban Ki-moon said that during his tour to the region, which includes stops in Egypt, Ramallah and Israel, he would continue to press for an immediate ceasefire, and call for an immediate end to the Israeli military operation in Gaza and the rocket fire by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
He also said that after the ceasefire, there was a serious need to find a two-state permanent solution to the crisis.
“Going back to the status quo ante in Gaza and the continuing siege of Gaza is not sustainable. There is only one way to avoid the cycle of war and perpetual insecurity for all – and that is by addressing the root causes of the conflict. That means a return to the negotiating table and talks for a two-state solution. Israelis, but also Palestinians, need to feel a sense of security. Palestinians, but also Israelis, need to see a horizon of hope.”
He said that all sides need to be assured that international humanitarian law counts, and that there would be accountability and justice for crimes committed by any party.
