Qatar affirmed that the world witnessed the brutal Israeli aggression and indiscriminate shelling on the Gaza Strip, highlighting Israel's apparent use of prohibited substances in its war on Gaza, which constitutes a serious violation of international law and humanitarian law.
This statement was made by Qatar’s ambassador to the Netherlands Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani at the 28th Conference of the States Parties to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Qatar urged countries that have not yet joined the Chemical Weapons Convention, especially Israel, to join and make the Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction.
He emphasised the request of the OPCW director-general and the technical secretariat to investigate the extent of the use of these prohibited weapons under international law and relevant agreements, including the Chemical Weapons Convention as an integral part of international law.
He also supported Palestine's request to the technical secretariat for monitoring and investigating the potential use and threat of the use of chemical weapons by the Israeli occupation.
The statement emphasised Qatar's ongoing efforts to support the work of the OPCW, believing in its fundamental role in preventing the spread and use of chemical weapons.
It highlighted the principles of cooperation and shared responsibility between member states and the organisation to address common dangers and challenges.
The statement mentioned the recent hosting of the 10th Annual Meeting of Representatives of the Chemical Industry and National Authorities of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention by the Regional Training Center in Doha in October.
The meeting was attended by OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias and the accompanying delegation.
