DOHA, Feb 25 – Qatar welcomed the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the inclusion of the occupied Palestinian territories with its jurisdiction, which paves the way for an investigation into committing international crimes against Palestinians.
This came in the statement of Qatar delivered by Permanent Representative of Qatar in Geneva Ambassador Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, Wednesday at the Human Rights Council during interactive dialogue on report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on ensuring accountability and justice in all violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Al Quds, under the second item on the council’s agenda.
Al-Mansouri said that they have reviewed the report and strongly condemn Israel, continuing violations and crimes against Palestinian people by killing civilians and children, and imposing the unjust siege and repeated aggression on the Gaza Strip, Qatar news agency (QNA) reported.
He added that the international community has repeatedly emphasised that the Israeli settlements, forced displacement of Palestinians, the destruction of their homes and the confiscation of their lands constitute a flagrant violation of the relevant international laws and conventions, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention, and are considered a war crime under the 1998 Rome Statute, stressing that the absence of accountability and independent and impartial investigations encouraged the Israeli military and political leaders to continue committing more systematic and gross violations, and to continue committing serious crimes against the Palestinian people.
He called on the international community to take all necessary measures to end the Israeli occupation of the occupied Arab lands, protect the Palestinian people, ensure the restoration of all their legitimate rights, and ensure the establishment of an independent and viable state of Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders, with Al Quds as its capital.
Source: BERNAMA