HH The Emir takes part in Extraordinary OIC Summit, condemns Israeli action in Gaza

HH The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani took part in the Emergency Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday.

Addressing the opening session, he called for a just solution to the cause of Palestine and redressing its people, without which the 70-year-old bloodshed cannot be stopped, reported Gulf Times.

“There’s an international consensus that transcends political and ideological differences on the need to put an end to the injustice inflicted upon the Palestinian people. The way to this is through a historic settlement establishing a Palestinian State in the territories occupied in 1967 — that is to say 22% of the historic land of Palestine — with Jerusalem as its capital,” HH The Emir was quoted as saying by Qatar Tribune.

“There’s an international consensus that the Israeli expansionist policies, in terms of the construction of settlements and the Judaization of Jerusalem, are illegal and constitute an obstacle in the way of achieving this historic settlement,” he added.

HH The Emir said that the massacre took place during the march on May 15, which is considered by the Palestinians and the Arabs as the Nakba of Palestine, and the world watched it live on TV screens. 

“Israeli soldiers fired a type of explosive bullets to kill demonstrators in broad daylight. The perpetrators of the carnage themselves haven’t claimed that the Palestinians were armed. For weeks, Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip have been staging peaceful marches as a reminder of the right of return, and to reject the liquidation of the Palestinian cause without a just solution.”

“As a result of the blockade, the Gaza Strip has been transformed into a large concentration camp for millions of people who’re deprived of their most basic rights to travel, education, work and medical treatment,” he was quoted as saying by Qatar Tribune.

“When their sons take arms they are called terrorists, and when they stage peaceful demonstrations they are called extremists, and are shot dead with live ammunition,” he said.

“We appreciate the countries that clearly condemned the massacre. We also respect those who expressed dismay and anger over this outrageous act and all those who called for establishing an independent commission of inquiry; but the Palestinian people and our people generally reckon this as not enough. Facts are well known, and Israel itself doesn’t deny shooting at demonstrators,” he said.

“What’s required is to take a position to be followed by practical steps. Who among us does not know the declared siege forced on Gaza Strip and collective punishment against its population? We also know that reports of commissions of inquiry may accumulate on shelves, as happened repeatedly in the past, if there’s no international will to take real and effective steps,” HH The Emir added.