Cairo                                                                                                                                                                                                      17 May 2018

The State of Qatar expressed its strong condemnation of the brutal massacre and systematic killing committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the unarmed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in commemoration of Nakba Day and their peaceful and legitimate protest against the decision of the United States to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem, stressing that the massacres committed against the defenseless Palestinian people is a disgrace to humanity.

The State of Qatar called on the international community and all international and regional forces to act immediately to put an end to the Israeli war machine and urged the Security Council and the international community to assume their full responsibility to immediately stop these atrocities, to hold accountable the perpetrators and to protect the defenseless Palestinian civilians. Qatar strongly supports the formation of an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate Israeli massacres and violations.

Addressing the extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Ministerial Council on Jerusalem, Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs  said that the United States unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli entity and to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem, Assembly resolution on the basis of the Union for Peace, which we affirm our total rejection of it, showed blatant bias to the occupation and violation of legitimate historical Palestinian rights and flagrant violations of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy, including Security Council resolutions No. 476 and 478 of 1980, and the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the basis of the Union for Peace.

Al-Muraikhi added that “what we see as massacres committed against the defenseless Palestinian people is a disgrace to humanity. It also reflects the inability of the international community to stop the brutal Israeli killing machine and the failure of the collective security system entrusted with maintaining international peace and security to protect civilians against Israeli arrogance and blatant defiance of the international community without caring for the consequences. “

He also pointed out that such an uncalculated step would undermine international efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement through a two-state solution, reiterating Doha strong rejection of any violations of the rights of worship or prejudice to Islamic holy sites in Palestine.

He stressed Qatar’s condemnation of Israeli settlers storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque as part of the so-called “Unification of Jerusalem Day” and stressing the special status of Jerusalem for all Muslims, calling on the international community to carry out its moral and legal responsibilities for the protection of Al Aqsa Mosque and religious shrines in Palestine.

Al-Muraikhi hailed the steadfastness of the heroic Palestinian people in facing the Israeli war machine, reiterating Qatar’s firm position in support of the Palestinian cause and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle for freedom, independence and self-determination and the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi expressed sincere condolences of the State of Qatar to the brotherly Palestinian people on dozens of innocent martyrs, men, women and children who sacrificed their pure blood to uphold their right to return to their land, praying to Almighty Allah to grant them mercy and grant thousands of wounded a speedy recovery.