Minister of State for International Cooperation H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad (left) during 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Geneva: Qatar participated in the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, currently underway in Geneva. Minister of State for International Cooperation H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad represented Qatar at the session.
Addressing the high-level segment, she noted that the session is taking place amid escalating global challenges, driven by the persistence and unprecedented spread of armed conflicts, which continue to have severe repercussions on human rights worldwide.
Al Misnad emphasised that these conflicts share a common thread, being the blatant violations of fundamental human rights principles and international humanitarian law. Turning to the situation in Palestine, she highlighted the ongoing tragedy of the Palestinian people, which has persisted for over seventy years. She noted that in the past 470 days of aggression on the Gaza Strip, the number of casualties has approached 170,000, including martyrs, wounded, and missing; most of whom are children and women.
Additionally, more than 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure and essential services, including hospitals and schools, have been destroyed. She condemned the blockade, starvation policies, restrictions on humanitarian aid, and the forced displacement of approximately 2.3 million Palestinians.
Al Misnad underscored Qatar’s relentless efforts, in partnership with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States, which led to a ceasefire agreement last month. The agreement also facilitated the exchange of prisoners and hostages, ensured the large-scale and systematic delivery of humanitarian aid across Gaza, rehabilitated hospitals, health centers, and bakeries, and allowed for the entry of civil defense supplies and fuel, as well as the provision of shelter for displaced families.
She urged the international community to intensify efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid and support the United Nations in ensuring its safe and efficient delivery to Gaza.
As part of Qatar’s continued commitment to alleviating the suffering of affected families, and under the directives of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a dedicated aid route was established to supply fuel to the Gaza Strip, she added.
She described the ceasefire agreement as a significant achievement and a crucial step in the right direction. However, she stressed that its sustainability depends on both parties fully adhering to their commitments, including the unconditional and unobstructed entry of humanitarian aid, reconstruction efforts, and creating conditions that enable the safe return of displaced Palestinians.
