NEW YORK: The State of Qatar has called on the UN Security Council to assume its responsibility in playing an important and effective role to ensure that the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of detainees and prisoners between the two sides achieves the positive results expected from it, by adopting a binding resolution that supports the agreement and emphasizes its full implementation.
This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by HESheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, before the Security Council, on the item of the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
She pointed out that this meeting comes days after the announcement in Doha of reaching an agreement to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip, which lasted for more than 15 months, and caused enormous human suffering and comprehensive destruction, and displaced most of the population and left 160,000 of them dead, injured and missing.
She explained that the State of Qatar had made sincere mediation efforts from the beginning, which culminated in the two parties reaching an agreement on January 15, which began to be implemented last Sunday.
“Under this agreement, which consists of three stages, each lasting 42 days, there will be an exchange of prisoners and hostages, a return to sustainable calm leading to a permanent ceasefire, the delivery of large quantities of humanitarian aid and its safe and effective distribution on a large scale throughout the Gaza Strip, the rehabilitation of hospitals, health centers and bakeries, and the entry of civil defense supplies, fuel and shelter supplies for the displaced. The agreement on the details of the second and third stages will be finalized during the implementation of the first stage,” she said.
She conveyed the State of Qatar's thanks to its mediation partners, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, noting that the three countries issued a statement as guarantors of the agreement confirming that they will work together to ensure that the parties implement their obligations and the full continuation of the three phases.
The Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations stressed that the State of Qatar has spared no effort in its efforts over the past fifteen months, and added: “After the success of these efforts in November 2023 in stopping the fighting and releasing 109 hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, meetings continued with partners and parties to the conflict, overcoming many obstacles, in pursuit of an agreement that would stop the war machine and restore hope to the region for a secure future.”
With the agreement coming into effect, she stressed that the State of Qatar looks forward to the concerted regional and international efforts in providing humanitarian aid and supporting the United Nations in bringing it in and delivering it to the Strip, stressing that the State of Qatar will spare no effort in providing support to the afflicted families and to alleviate the suffering of the people, noting in this regard that under the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the launch of a land bridge was announced to supply the Gaza Strip with fuel.
At this stage, as before, she stressed that UNRWA still had a pivotal role, and warned that banning the agency's activities by the occupation authorities would lead to serious humanitarian and political consequences.
Regarding sisterly Syria, the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations stated that the State of Qatar affirms its firm position of standing by the brotherly Syrian people and their choices, and affirms at this historic juncture the strength of fraternal relations with the Syrian Arab Republic after a 13-year hiatus due to the previous regime’s brutal suppression of the revolution of the brotherly Syrian people.
She explained that the State of Qatar reiterates the importance of conducting a comprehensive Syrian political process, and welcomes the measures taken by the new Syrian administration to protect civilians, stabilize state institutions, provide public services, and facilitate the return of displaced persons and refugees.
She pointed out that the State of Qatar is committed to continuing to support the Syrian brothers in various fields, noting that the current humanitarian situation requires the support of the international community, and the necessity of lifting the sanctions due to their negative effects on the Syrian people and considering that the reasons for imposing them have disappeared.
She stressed that the State of Qatar stresses the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, and the realization of the aspirations of its people for a decent life and the building of a state of institutions and law, and condemns the incursion of Israeli forces across the buffer zone, which must be reversed immediately.
Regarding sisterly Lebanon, she reiterated the State of Qatar’s welcome to the election of HE Joseph Aoun as President of the sisterly Lebanese Republic, and the assignment of HE DrNawaf Salam to head the government, and lookforward to this contributing to establishing security and stability in Lebanon, and achieving the aspirations of its people for progress, development and prosperity.
She said: "The State of Qatar affirms that it will continue its permanent support for brotherly Lebanon, and renews its position in support of its unity, sovereignty, security and stability, and renews its welcome for the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, and expresses its aspiration for all parties to adhere to it, and the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, and for the agreement to pave the way for a more comprehensive consensus that achieves lasting peace and stability. We also stress respect for the mandate of UNIFIL and the safety of its personnel."
The Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations stressed that the only path towards stability and prosperity in the region remains a comprehensive and just political solution to the Palestinian issue, based on international law and international legitimacy resolutions, ending the occupation, halting settlement activities, and affirming the vision of a two-state solution, which is the vision emphasized by Resolution 2334, and which was emphasized by the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice in July 2024, which must be respected.
She stressed that it is necessary to reject any measures that undermine the sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue, including attempts to annex Palestinian territories and violate religious sanctities, as the State of Qatar hopes that the ceasefire agreement will be the beginning of a new phase of serious work to resolve the Palestinian issue, stressing in this regard the importance of supporting Palestinian reconciliation in the next phase, noting that the management of the Gaza Strip after the war is a purely Palestinian affair.
In conclusion, she reaffirmed the State of Qatar's firm position on the justice of the Palestinian cause, the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, the establishment of their independent, fully sovereign state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and recognition as a full member of this international organization.
