Mr. Chair,
Bangladesh aligns itself with the statement made by Cuba on behalf of G77 & China.
Mr. Chair,
The 2030 agenda for sustainable development enshrines a bold and transformative vision to ‘leave no one behind.’
It calls for ‘effective measures and actions to be taken, in conformity with international law, to remove the obstacles to the full realization of the right of self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation, which continue to adversely affect their economic and social development as well as their environment.’
Unfortunately, over half a century of occupation, settlement expansion, demolition of Palestinian structures and homes, appropriation of land and resources, and access and movement restrictions have impoverished the Palestinian people and, crucially, denied them the opportunity to achieve sustainable development.
Mr. Chair,
Secretary General’s 2023 report on the agenda item under consideration has elaborately detailed how persistent Israeli practices and policies, in violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, have affected the social and economic conditions in Palestine and caused enduring harm to the development and welfare of the Palestinian people.
Every year, the General Assembly through a second committee resolution, demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease the exploitation, damage, cause of loss or depletion, and endangerment of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. However, the objective of these resolutions remains unfulfilled as the occupation and blockade of Gaza continue, and so do the killing and senseless hostilities against the Palestinian people.
Gaza’s socioeconomic fabric is on the brink of collapse due to the cumulative impact of continued sea, land, and air blockade and restricted trade and access to resources, coupled with high unemployment and poverty rates. The ongoing disproportionate and indiscriminate military campaign by Israel in Gaza has created the grave risk of further deterioration of the socioeconomic condition of the territory leading to an abysmal situation.
Mr. Chair,
Allow me to highlight a few specific points that may accelerate SDG progress in Palestine :
First, ending Israel’s occupation of all Arab lands, including the Syrian Golan, is essential to enable Palestine to meet its commitments toward sustainable development.
Second, For sustainable development, the Palestinian people and the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan need to have access to and control over land, agricultural outputs, and vital natural resources such as water. The international community has a responsibility to ensure that they can benefit from their natural resources and claim restitution for the harms already caused by the occupying power.
Third, insufficient resources to fund economic activities in Palestine remains a big challenge. The UNRAW funding is continuously shrinking. There is also a sharp decline in the volume of foreign aid to Palestine in past years.
There is an urgent need to scale up cash transfers, food aid, and project grants targeting poverty alleviation, education, women empowerment, and health care. Support for technical and capacity development and institution building is also necessary to accelerate SDGs implementation in Palestine.
Fourth, the alarming escalation in tension and violence and disproportionate use of force during the ongoing crisis demonstrates the urgent need to address the root causes of the conflict. Non-adherence to international law and lack of implementation of Security Council resolutions pertaining to the question of Palestine undermines the prospects of achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mr. Chair,
Bangladesh calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to save the lives and livelihood of more than two million Palestinians living there.
The people and the Government of Bangladesh remain steadfast in their support for the just and legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for the establishment of an independent, viable, contiguous, and sovereign Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in the framework of a two-state solution.
I thank you.