Qatar renews calls for Gaza ceasefire

Qatar has said that it is following up with deep concern the grave developments in the Gaza Strip and reiterated its call on all parties to de-escalate and work toward a complete ceasefire along all confrontation lines. Qatar has also called for the immediate release of all prisoners, especially civilians, as well as for ensuring the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the opening of safe corridors for humanitarian assistance.
This came in a statement delivered by Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani before the Security Council's open debate on the "Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question." She affirmed Qatar's condemnation of all forms of targeting civilians, particularly women and children, and its strong rejection of the comprehensive siege imposed by Israel, the occupying authority, on the Gaza Strip, and that deprives 2.3mn people, half of whom are children, of their basic needs, including water, food, medicine, and electricity, at a time when the Israeli bombing resulted in more than 5,000 victims among residents in Gaza, including over 1,000 women and 2,000 innocent children.
HE Sheikha Alya stressed that it is unacceptable for the current conflict to be used as a pretext for Israel's policy of collective punishment against the brotherly Palestinian people, including forced displacement and compelling civilians to displace or seek refuge in neighbouring countries, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international laws.
The expansion of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip to include civilian facilities such as hospitals, schools, and residential areas is a dangerous escalation that threatens the region's security and stability, and constitutes a serious violation of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, she said.
Qatar has repeatedly warned in recent months about the consequences of the escalating policies adopted by the Israeli government, including the rejected attempts to prejudice to the religious and historical status of holy places, repeated incursions into the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, the continuation of settlement policies, land annexation, demolition of Palestinian properties, and arbitrary measures against Palestinian prisoners, she said, adding that Qatar emphasises the importance of co-operation to contain the circle of violence and avoid the risk of sliding into a wider circle of violence that would be paid for by the region's peoples.
HE Sheikha Alya pointed out that Qatar has taken the initiative over the past two weeks to make intensive diplomatic efforts and contacts at the highest levels with a number of senior leaders and officials in the region and influential capitals, and with international and regional actors. She added that it is known that Qatar believes in the importance of mediation and dialogue for the peaceful settlement of conflicts and continues to keep channels of communication open with all parties.
HE Sheikha Alya noted that this contributes to the successes of the Qatari mediation, expressing pleasure that, through the mediation efforts of Qatar, several hostages held in the Gaza Strip have been released in recent days. Therefore, Qatar strongly rejects what was mentioned in Israel's statement, which politicises the humanitarian support provided by Qatar to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, and presents a contrary image to the reality of Qatar's mediation efforts, which have received wide and continuous commendation from sisterly and friendly countries, the UN, and international partners, she said.
Qatar reiterates the importance of facilitating the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to all those in need, and stresses the need to activate the role of the UN and international organisations to address urgent humanitarian issues, she said.
HE Sheikha Alya pointed out that there is the ongoing humanitarian assistance that Qatar has provided to improve the deteriorating living conditions resulting from the continuous siege on the Gaza Strip for over 16 years, including building houses, healthcare facilities, infrastructure like roads, providing the necessary fuel for electricity generation, and financial support for UNRWA, all with the aim of alleviating the factors contributing to despair that threaten stability, security, and peace.
She expressed Qatar's regret over the UN Security Council's failure to adopt a consensus resolution to end the current crisis, expressing hope that the Security Council, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security, can effectively resolve this crisis.