International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People Commemorated at the United Nations Office at Geneva
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was commemorated today at a Special Meeting held at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, chaired the meeting and read out the message of António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, who said that this year’s International Day came after two years of horrific suffering in Gaza – and the start of a much-needed ceasefire. Survivors were mourning the deaths of tens of thousands of friends and family – nearly a third of them children – and thousands more had been injured.
Mr. Guterres said injustice was also continuing in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with Israeli military operations, settler violence, settlement expansion, evictions, demolitions and threats of annexation. In so many ways, this tragedy had tested the norms and laws that had guided the international community for generations.
The recent ceasefire offered a glimmer of hope, Mr. Guterres said. It was now vital that all parties respected it fully and worked in good faith towards solutions that restored and upheld international law. Mr. Guterres repeated his call for an end to the unlawful occupation of the Palestinian Territory - as affirmed by the International Court of Justice and the General Assembly - and for irreversible progress towards a two-State solution.
Ibrahim Khraishi, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, reading out a statement on behalf of Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, said the commemoration of the International Day reaffirmed the global commitment to solidarity with the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination, freedom and independence.
On this day, Mr. Abbas said, the Palestinian people continued to confront the consequences of the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, under the continuation of the occupation and its policies of settlement, expansion and annexation.
Mr. Abbas said the State of Palestine welcomed the efforts of United States President Donald Trump and the successful mediation efforts undertaken by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States to achieve and stabilise a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, secure the release of hostages and prisoners, and ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid.
The Special Meeting was also addressed by representatives of Senegal on behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; Sri Lanka on behalf of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the Occupied Territories; the League of Arab States; the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement; the African Union; and the World Young Women’s Christian Association and the Young Women’s Christian Association Palestine, representing non-governmental organizations accredited to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
Messages of solidarity for the Day were received from Heads of State or Governments of Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Egypt, India, Senegal, Jordan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bangladesh, Maldives, Qatar and Brazil.
The Special Meeting was organised in observance of General Assembly resolution 32/40B of 2 December 1977.
A webcast of the Special Meeting can be viewed on UN Web TV.
Statements
TATIANA VALOVAYA, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, read out the message of ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General, who said that this year’s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People came after two years of horrific suffering in Gaza – and the start of a much-needed ceasefire. Survivors were mourning the deaths of tens of thousands of friends and family – nearly a third of them children – and thousands more had been injured. Hunger, disease and trauma were running rampant, while schools, homes and hospitals lay in ruins. Injustice was also continuing in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with Israeli military operations, settler violence, settlement expansion, evictions, demolitions and threats of annexation.
At the same time, hundreds of humanitarians had been killed. The majority were Palestinian United Nations staff, marking the largest loss of personnel in the Organization’s history. More journalists had perished than in any conflict since the Second World War. In so many ways, this tragedy had tested the norms and laws that had guided the international community for generations. The killing of so many civilians, the repeated displacement of an entire population, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid should never be acceptable under any circumstances.
The recent ceasefire offered a glimmer of hope. It was now vital that all parties respected it fully and worked in good faith towards solutions that restored and upheld international law. This included returning the remains of the hostages from the 7 October attacks, promptly and in a dignified manner, to grieving families in Israel. Lifesaving humanitarian aid needed to be allowed to enter Gaza at scale, and the international community needed to continue to stand firmly with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East - an irreplaceable lifeline for millions of Palestinians, including Palestine refugees.
Mr. Guterres repeated his call for an end to the unlawful occupation of the Palestinian Territory - as affirmed by the International Court of Justice and the General Assembly - and for irreversible progress towards a two-State solution, in line with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within their secure and recognised borders, on the basis of pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.
ABOUBACAR SADIKH BARRY, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, representing Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, said that the international community was meeting today with a profound sense of responsibility and gravity. Fifty years of the pleading of the Committee and solidarity of the international community had not made it possible to remedy the continuing injustice suffered by the Palestinian people. Some 78 years after the United Nations General Assembly resolution, the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security had not been achieved, and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and independence remained flouted.
This commemoration was taking place more than two years after the military offensive in Gaza, which had caused unprecedented human suffering and loss. There had been many victims, including women and children, millions of injuries and thousands of people who had suffered amputations. A famine was affecting at least a third of the population of Gaza, a direct consequence of Israel’s use of famine as a tool of war. More than 80 per cent of the civilian infrastructure in Gaza had been destroyed or made unusable through two years of military attacks conducted by Israel. The blockade, repeated displacement of the population, and refusal to provide humanitarian assistance had deprived families of food, water, electricity. Gaza had been made deliberately uninhabitable.
However, there remained hope. On 10 October, a fragile ceasefire was concluded, accompanied by a peace plan negotiated by the United States, marking the cessation of the Israeli offensive. On 19 November, the United Nations General Assembly renewed the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, guaranteeing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. Prior to this, on 17 November, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2803, providing for the resumption of humanitarian assistance and the deployment of a temporary international stabilisation force.
The Committee hoped that the implementation of the resolution and all other relevant United Nations resolutions would offer a credible path to the long-awaited independence of the State of Palestine. It was also essential that the right to the return of refugees was guaranteed. All efforts needed to be made to remedy the grave deterioration of the situation of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where settler violence against Palestinians and their property was continuing to intensify, leading to forced displacements, expropriations and a climate of lawlessness and impunity.
The creation and viability of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State living in peace and security side-by-side with Israel remained fundamental for the prospects of peace and prosperity in the Middle East. The reconstruction of Gaza and the protection of civilians needed to guide all efforts. The Committee reiterated its appeal to the international community to take the steps necessary to achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to the establishment and full recognition of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
HIMALEE SUBHASHINI ARUNATILAKA, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and Chair of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, said the Day of Solidarity was declared by the General Assembly in 1977 and was first observed in 1978. For nearly half a century, it had stood as a reminder that the search for peace and justice for the Palestinian people remained unfinished. In reviewing developments, the Special Committee had continued to witness conditions that undermined the fundamental rights and protections of Palestinians living under occupation.
The situation in the Gaza Strip remained catastrophic. Over the past two years, tens of thousands of civilians had been killed, most of them women and children, with thousands more believed to lie beneath destroyed neighbourhoods. Entire communities had been reduced to rubble. Homes, hospitals, schools and essential infrastructure had been damaged or destroyed, leaving most of the population displaced and many areas uninhabitable. Large sections of the territory had been declared unsafe or inaccessible. Even areas identified as safe zones had come under fire. Humanitarian access remained restricted, and humanitarian and United Nations staff had been killed at levels without precedent in the history of the organization.
The situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, had sharply deteriorated. The Committee had documented unprecedented levels of settler violence, often occurring in the presence of, or with the acquiescence of security forces. Palestinians had endured killings, injuries, mass arrests and widespread property destruction. Settlement expansion continued at a record pace. Of particular concern was the resumption of land registration in Area C after more than five decades. This step was expected to lead to widespread dispossession and deeper settlement entrenchment. These developments amounted to de facto annexation and stood in clear violation of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
Across the territories under occupation, there was an overarching pattern. Territorial control was being consolidated through settlement expansion, land appropriation, military activity and the erosion of protections afforded to civilians. The ideological framework - Land of Israel - had been used to justify settlement growth, annexation initiatives, and the continued presence of military forces in parts of Gaza.
In light of these developments, several principles needed to guide the international community. Civilians needed to be protected under international humanitarian and human rights law. Annexation, whether formal or incremental, was unlawful. Humanitarian access needed to be unrestricted, and humanitarian and United Nations personnel needed to be protected. The mandate and operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East needed to be preserved, for the Agency remained essential to the dignity and survival of millions of Palestine refugees.
A just and lasting peace required the realisation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination. The Day was a reminder that solidarity was a commitment to justice, human dignity, and to the rule of law. The only prospect to express solidarity with the Palestinian people was to recognise the legitimate and inalienable right of the Palestinian people to statehood as per the comprehensively negotiated political settlement based on the 1967 borders.
HICHEM BAYOUDH, Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, on behalf of AHMED ABOUL GHEIT, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, said the question of Palestine was going through the direst moments. The genocidal Israeli occupation had erased a society from existence and undermined any chance for the stability of Palestine in the future. Over the past few years, many masks had fallen off and the international community had seen the real and criminal face of the occupation. Occupation itself was an immoral act, but it was accompanied by more criminality in terms of destruction, famine and violations of human dignity. Even babies were targeted.
The commemoration was an annual reminder to the international community to stand by the Palestinian people and their struggle for their State. Palestinians had for decades been suffering, but this suffering had reached unprecedented levels in the past two years, not only in Gaza but also in the occupied West Bank, which had witnessed unprecedented settler expansion, as well as the destruction of camps and the forced displacement of many. In addition to an increasing number of terrorist attacks by settlers, many Palestinians had been martyred, tens of thousands had been arrested, and around 9,000 were in the prisons of the occupying power.
Despite this situation, the plan to create a Palestinian State was still alive. The fire, shelling, attacks and the voices of the free people of the world calling for a Palestinian State were still resonating. There had been increasing recognition of the State of Palestine, a step closer on the path towards establishment of the Palestinian State and not towards occupation. The declaration adopted by the General Assembly in September 2025 drew a clear path to the creation of the State.
President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, in addition to the efforts of Egypt, Türkiye and others led to the ceasefire. This was followed by Security Council resolution 2803, which established an interim international stabilisation force in Gaza, which would pave the way to the right to self-determination and statehood. This was a first step, but further work was needed to translate the elements of the resolution into a reality that would have an impact on the daily lives of Palestinians. It needed to lead to a full Israeli withdrawal and pave the way for unhindered humanitarian assistance. The ultimate objective was to support the Palestinians and eradicate all plans for further displacement.
The Palestinian Authority was the only representative of the Palestinian people; it enjoyed the full mandate of governance. Arab countries and other international stakeholders that supported the principles of freedom and justice were certain that, one day, the occupation would end and the Palestinian State would exist.
BADER AL-MUTAIRI, Deputy Permanent Observer, Chargé d’affaires a.i., Permanent Delegation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, reading out the statement of HISSEINE BRAHIM TAHA, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said the annual international gathering commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People highlighted the imperative for the global community to acknowledge its obligations toward the Palestinian people. The celebration occurred against the backdrop of significant developments and challenges surrounding the Palestinian cause, particularly in light of the severe consequences faced by the Palestinian people due to two years of Israeli military aggression. These consequences manifested as extensive human suffering, the denial of essential services, starvation, widespread displacement, and extensive infrastructural damage in the Gaza Strip.
The ceasefire agreement reached in October was viewed as a pivotal milestone that should pave the way for a permanent and comprehensive cessation of hostilities and violations. Essential next steps included the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, the unimpeded reopening of all crossings, and the provision of adequate humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, it was imperative to convene a donors' conference in Cairo to secure the necessary funding for an extensive recovery, relief and reconstruction plan for Gaza, which remained an integral component of the State of Palestine.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation was advocating for reinforcing the roles of various United Nations agencies and bodies to ensure a coordinated response driven by humanitarian needs. It welcomed the recent advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 22 October 2025, and emphasised the importance of providing political, financial and legal support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. This Agency played a critical role in delivering essential services to Palestinian refugees and symbolised the international community's ongoing commitment and responsibility toward their plight, serving as a cornerstone for regional peace and stability.
Additionally, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation stressed the necessity for international protection for the Palestinian populace under a United Nations Security Council resolution. This endeavour needed to be complemented by efforts to terminate the impunity currently enjoyed by the Israeli occupation through the activation of accountability mechanisms under international criminal law, thereby contributing to the establishment of a foundation for justice and peace.
The ongoing developments in the Gaza Strip needed to be contextualised within the framework of Israel’s unlawful policies regarding settlement expansion, territorial annexation and the systematic demolition of Palestinian homes. These actions were often accompanied by violence from extremist settlers, which occurred under the aegis of Israeli security forces in the West Bank. Moreover, there were deliberate efforts to “Judaise” occupied Al-Quds (Jerusalem) through a series of illegal initiatives intended to alter the historical and legal status of key Islamic and Christian religious sites, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Such actions not only undermined the viability of a two-State solution but also contravened international law and established United Nations resolutions.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation reiterated its unwavering support for the rights of the Palestinian people, asserting that the international community had a responsibility to implement practical measures to ensure compliance by Israel, the occupying power, with its international legal obligations. This entailed actively working towards ending the occupation, providing international protection for the Palestinian populace, expanding the recognition of the State of Palestine, and facilitating its full membership in the United Nations. The objective remained the realisation of a just, durable and comprehensive peace, anchored in the two-State solution.
The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation urged ongoing support and solidarity until the Palestinian people reclaimed their legitimate national rights, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent State within the borders recognised prior to June 4, 1967, with East Al-Quds designated as its capital.
ARTHUR KAFEERO, Deputy Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, representing the Non-Aligned Movement, said that, for many years, the Non-Aligned Movement had maintained a firm position of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their just cause, and the condemnation of massive, flagrant and systematic violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law committed by Israel, the illegal occupying power. There had been no reprieve to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
The Non-Aligned Movement condemned in the strongest terms the acts of aggression and collective punishment by Israel, the occupying power, against the Palestinian people, in grave breach of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law. These acts included the killing and injury of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including many children and women, in the Israeli military aggression that began in October 2023 against the besieged Gaza Strip.
The Non-Aligned Movement reaffirmed the need for all to take active steps to ensure sustainability of the ongoing ceasefire as well as the full implementation of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and all relevant United Nations resolutions. It called upon all States to comply with their obligations under international law.
The Non-Aligned Movement remained concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian crisis, including widespread hunger and malnutrition and rampant spread of illness and disease, gravely impacting the most vulnerable in the population. It demanded the complete lifting of the illegal blockade and for immediate, unimpeded and sufficient humanitarian assistance at scale to meet the enormous needs of the Palestinian civilian population. The Non-Aligned Movement reaffirmed the continued indispensability of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for the provision of assistance and for regional stability. It urged the international community to support the Agency in all ways, including with sufficient and predictable funding.
The Non-Aligned Movement welcomed the ongoing global actions in support of the implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions on the two-State solution and the comprehensive, just and peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question. Member States of the Non-Aligned Movement reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their just struggle to achieve justice and realise their inalienable rights and legitimate national aspirations, including to realise the independence and sovereignty of the State of Palestine in all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
YAKDHAN EL HABIB, Minister-Councillor, Permanent Delegation of the African Union to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, on behalf of MAHAMOUD ALI YOUSSOUF, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, expressed support and solidarity with the Palestinian people. This Day brought with it a call for global consensus and collective responsibility, a call to uphold dignity and justice and the rights of the Palestinian people to live in peace and security. The ongoing crisis in Gaza and the West Bank continued to cause deep human suffering. The African Union Commission condemned all acts of violence against civilians and called for an immediate end to hostilities and restrictions on humanitarian access, and for full respect for international law and human rights.
The African Union Commission welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement as an important step towards silencing the guns and alleviating civilian suffering. However, this needed to be followed by a credible political process leading to a just and sustainable peace.
The Palestinian people possessed the inalienable right to self-determination and statehood, to live in freedom, dignity and security, with an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, co-existing side-by-side with the State of Israel in peace and mutual recognition. African solidarity with Palestine was rooted in its own historic struggle against colonialism and injustice. The African Union Commission urged the international community to move from expressions of concern to concrete action to ensure accountability, protect civilians, and support renewed dialogue that led to a comprehensive and lasting peace.
The African Union Commission remained steadfast in its support of all genuine efforts to achieve a just resolution to the conflict grounded in international law and the principles of equality and justice. The international community needed to continue to work and pray for peace.
MELINA EISENRING, representing the World Young Women’s Christian Association and the Young Women’s Christian Association Palestine, and all non-governmental organizations accredited to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, said that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was a reminder to the world that the ongoing colonial occupation of Palestine remained unresolved, and that the struggle for justice and freedom was far from over. For decades, Palestinian men, women, and children had endured killings, displacement, loss, and systematic dehumanisation. Across generations, Palestinians had faced movement restrictions, arbitrary arrests, land confiscation, and the erasure of entire communities. And still, they embodied “Sumoud” - resilience, faith and the unwavering hope to live in dignity.
Today, this call for solidarity came at a moment of unimaginable suffering. Gaza continued to endure one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in modern history. Despite repeated announcements of ceasefire efforts, the killing and destruction had not stopped. Entire families had been wiped out and homes, infrastructure and hospitals had been reduced to rubble. Women and girls were bearing the disproportionate weight of this violence. Gender-based violence was being weaponised as a deliberate strategy of war.
At the same time, Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem faced escalating attacks: home demolitions, land seizure, random arrests, movement restrictions, and violence carried out by settlers with military protection. This was a continuation of the genocidal violence under military occupation. The world should no longer tolerate it.
The United Nations and all Member States were urged to renew and strengthen efforts to end the ongoing suffering in Palestine, ensuring protection for all Palestinians, and guaranteeing unrestricted humanitarian access; and to uphold international law and all relevant United Nations resolutions affirming the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, and return to their homes and lands. These parties were further urged to safeguard and sustain the essential work of humanitarian agencies serving Palestinian refugees and communities, and to advance meaningful diplomatic and political measures that could end the occupation and open a path toward a just and lasting peace, including an immediate arms embargo and economic sanctions, among other steps.
IBRAHIM KHRAISHI, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, on behalf of MAHMOUD ABBAS, President of the State of Palestine, said the commemoration of the International Day reaffirmed the global commitment to solidarity with the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination, freedom and independence. On this day, the Palestinian people continued to confront the consequences of the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, under the continuation of the occupation and its policies of settlement, expansion and annexation. They faced settler terrorism, under the protection of the occupation army, resulting in grave humanitarian suffering and serious violations of human rights and international law.
While confronting these crimes, Palestinians were witnessing growing international momentum in favour of recognising the State of Palestine and increasing support for ending the unlawful occupation in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and for achieving a just and comprehensive peace. The efforts of the Arab-Islamic Committee, chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, had laid the foundation for a broad international movement, which - together with the European Union and Norway - had formed an international coalition to implement the two-State solution. This international effort culminated in the convening of the High-level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-State solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration, which included irreversible steps toward an independent and sovereign State of Palestine and toward a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
Alongside the conference came international recognitions of the State of Palestine and practical measures by numerous States to end the aggression against Palestinians and the occupation of Palestinian land. The number of States recognising the State of Palestine had now reached 160, in an evident reflection of the growing international will to end the occupation and uphold justice in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions. The State of Palestine called on the States that had not yet recognised the State of Palestine to take this courageous step, which was consistent with the principles of international law. Mr. Abbas reminded that the State of Palestine recognised the State of Israel in 1993.
The State of Palestine thanked all States and institutions that stood by Palestinians in defence of their right to freedom and independence, including those that had taken political, legal and practical measures to stop the genocidal war against the Palestinians in Gaza and the policies of settlement and annexation.
The State of Palestine also valued the political, financial and technical support provided to the Palestinian Authority. The international community needed to empower the Authority and remove all obstacles intended to prevent it from performing its natural role in serving the Palestinian people, particularly in these difficult circumstances.
The State of Palestine welcomed the efforts of United States President Donald Trump and the successful mediation efforts undertaken by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye and the United States to achieve and stabilise a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, secure the release of hostages and prisoners, and ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid. It renewed its welcome of President Trump’s peace plan, adopted by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, stressing the necessity of a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, moving toward reconstruction and the assumption by the State of Palestine of full administrative and security responsibilities in Gaza, as well as ensuring that all institutions and authorities in Gaza were linked to the Palestinian Authority and State institutions, including the crossings, and implementing the vision of one State, one Government, one Law and one Gun.
Gaza was an integral part of the State of Palestine, and its unity with the West Bank and East Jerusalem was an absolute and non-negotiable right. All arrangements during the transitional period needed to be consistent with the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and with the unity and integrity of their territories. Palestine would work with the United States and regional and international partners to establish a permanent ceasefire and launch a political process that ended the occupation and led to a just and comprehensive peace guaranteeing security, stability and prosperity for all countries in the region.
The State of Palestine rejected the statements and positions issued by senior officials in the extremist Israeli Government, which promoted racism, oppression and hatred, and explicitly rejected international legitimacy and the independence of the State of Palestine. Settlement practices, settler violence, home demolitions, land confiscation, repeated raids on Palestinian cities, the continued withholding of Palestinian funds, strangling the Palestinian economy and undermining Palestinian institutions were all unilateral illegal steps that undermined the prospects for peace. This required the United Nations and Member States to assume their responsibilities in stopping these practices, ensuring compliance with international law and providing protection for the Palestinian people.
Mr. Abbas said that the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their adherence to their inalienable rights were the foundation for the continuation of their just cause. The path to freedom was closer than ever. The independence of the State of Palestine would be realised through the will of the Palestinian people, with the support of the international community and with legitimacy that no one could take away, no matter how long it took.
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Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
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