Mr. President,
I commend the leadership of Brazil in steering the work of the Council this month. I also thank the Presidency for convening this important debate today. We appreciate all the briefers for their insights.
My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by Azerbaijan on behalf of NAM. I wish to add some points in my national capacity.
Mr. President,
2021 was the deadliest year for the Palestinians since 2014 with deaths of at least 324 Palestinians including 86 children. The intensity of military atrocities, detention and arrest, attacks by the settlers, demolition of homes and civilian structures, terrorizing and causing injuries to innocent people, destroying properties, etc. have been further aggravated by the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) in the first half of 2022. Moreover, we have been observing continuous expansion of Israeli illegal settlements and rise in attack by the armed settlers with the help of Israeli security forces. It is matter of serious concern that the Israeli settlers are continuously violating the historic and legal status quo of Al-
Haram Al-Sharif, terrorizing and harassing Palestinian children and setting fire in the Palestinian villages. We are also deeply concerned by the further encroachment on Palestinian land and extraction of natural resources, restricting the free movement of the Palestinian population, and cutting off access to grazing land which were long used by Palestinian pastoralists as mentioned in the Secretray-General’s recent report. In addition to attacks against the civilians, these illegal actions are seriously hindering the economic activities and subsequently deteriorating the humanitarian situation.
Mr. President,
We refer to the recent report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel which mentioned that Israel has no intention of ending the occupation, has clear policies for ensuring complete control over the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The report also noted the views of the former Secretary-General that a sense of despair and frustration was growing under the weight of half a century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process.
Mr. President,
Bangladesh reiterates its position of supporting the just cause of the people of Palestine for an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, under a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders. In this regard, we would like to highlight the following:
First, the Security Council must demand an end to all provocations and violations by Israel. It must demand implementation of the relevant UN resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016) and ensure the compliance of all international human rights and humanitarian laws by Israel.
Second, it is time for concrete actions by the international community to hold Israel accountable for grave injustice and violence against the people of Palestine and for repeated violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied territory. The crimes committed against the Palestinians are tantamount to war crimes. We also echo the continued call of the international community for an independent international investigation into the murder of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli occupying forces.
Third, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has pointed out that the children are the most affected in the occupied Palestinian territory. Secretary-General’s recent report on Children and Armed Conflict also highlighted how brutally the Israeli Occupying Forces treating the children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. There can be no moral and legal justification for the killing of children. We call for consistent and urgent action to protect all civilian lives, particularly the lives of children.
Before concluding, I reiterate Bangladesh’s unwavering and steadfast support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian brothers and sisters for a just and lasting solution to their legitimate aspirations.
I thank Mr. President.