Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Ahmed Maalam Faqi Ahmed, today, delivered an influential speech to the United Nations Security Council during Meeting No. 9841 in New York, highlighting the critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reaffirmed the country’s steadfast support for the Palestinian cause.
In a recent speech, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the sister Democratic Democratic Democratic Republic of Algeria for holding this important session, which reflects a deep understanding of the serious humanitarian and political situation in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian cause in general. I also praise the sincere briefing given by the Secretary-General, which painted an accurate picture of the extent of suffering and challenges facing the Palestinian people.
Recent months in the Gaza Strip have seen a tragic escalation that left thousands of innocent civilians dead, destroyed vital infrastructure that included hospitals and schools, and turned the daily lives of the residents of the Gaza Strip into an unbearable ongoing suffering. This painful reality places us all with a moral, humanitarian and political responsibility that calls for an urgent and inclusive international movement to lift the suffering of the isolated Palestinian people, and ensure that their basic inactionable rights are respected.
The announcement of a ceasefire agreement, which came as a result of the tireless efforts of the sister state of Qatar and the sister Arab Republic of Egypt, in cooperation with the friendly United States of America, is an important step and a welcome one. This agreement highlights the importance of diplomatic work in conflict resolution, and reflects what can be achieved through political will and constructive cooperation. However, this agreement should be seen as a first step in a long and arduous path to achieving lasting and inclusive peace.
The biggest challenge we face today is not just fixing a ceasefire, but it extends to addressing the root causes of the conflict, ending the Israeli occupation, lifting the inhumane siege on the Gaza Strip, and ensuring the strip is rebuilt with hope to its inhabitants. Reconstruction is not just a financial process to fix what war has destroyed, it is a comprehensive process that requires investing in people, supporting local communities, and strengthening economic and social infrastructure to ensure a more stable and just future.
The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza places on us a collective responsibility to ensure the arrival of humanitarian aid urgently, safe and unhindered. In this context, we emphasize the importance of the continued work of the United Nations Relief and Operating Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNROA), which represents a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees. UNROA, created by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, is not a matter that can be negotiated or modified only through this body. So, we urge all parties to avoid taking any monotonous steps that may affect the work of the agency or worsen the humanitarian situation in the region.
Building true peace requires more than just stopping hostilities; it requires a collective will to find sustainable solutions. Henceforth, we call for an effective international mechanism to ensure full implementation of ceasefire agreements, and prevent a return to the cycle of violence. We also emphasize the importance of supporting the legitimate Palestinian leadership, strengthening Palestinian national institutions, and enabling them to do their part in serving the Palestinian people’s aspirations towards freedom and independence.
The essence of peace and stability in the Middle East is centered on a just and inclusive solution to the Palestinian issue, based on decisions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, which guarantee the achievement of the vision of the two states and the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian state on the border of the Fourth of June 1967, and its capital, East Jerusalem.
The Federal Republic of Somalia renews its steadfast solidarity with the Palestinian brotherly people, calls on the international community to intensify its efforts to end the Israeli occupation, achieve a just, inclusive and sustainable peace that guarantees the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and restore dignity and stability to the region and its families.
