YouSaid · the spoken record

Al-Nasser

lines on the record: 753
first: 1999-05-14
most recent: 2018-04-23
sittings or episodes: 112
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Their lives and prospects are under threat both during and after crisis situations, because there are constraints on the needed assistance. Here, we take note of the annex to the report of the Secretary- General, on constraints on humanitarian access. We stress the importance of continuing to compile information on the humanitarian crisis facing civilians under foreign occupation and in armed conflict situations. Under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, especially the Geneva Conventions and in particular the Fourth Convention, which contains provisions related to the protection of civilians under foreign occupation, primary responsibility lies with the parties to the conflict and with the occupier to protect those under its authority and to provide for their basic needs.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“That was a result of the consistent targeting of infrastructure, which caused enormous damage to homes, hospitals and schools, including schools operated by the United Nations, in clear breach of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, specifically the Geneva Conventions, in particular the Fourth Convention, which includes provisions on the protection of civilians under foreign occupation. Another important challenge is to avoid subjecting civilians to the consequences of hostilities, as is currently the case in Afghanistan, and to prevent the killing of civilians by rebel elements, as is the case in the Sudan. Millions of civilians in zones of armed conflict and foreign occupation are suffering, in particular women, children, the disabled and the elderly.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“We note the observations in the report of the Secretary-General regarding the core challenges to improving the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including in situations of foreign occupation, and we endorse the report's reference to the fact that those challenges are fundamentally reflected in the lack of full compliance with international legal commitments on the protection of civilians. In our region, more than 1,000 Palestinian civilians lost their lives in January's Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“The first and most important facet is ensuring compliance with laws on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including in situations of foreign occupation, in accordance with international law and, in particular, with international humanitarian law and international human rights law. It also involves combating impunity and ensuring the protection of civilians and their human rights without discrimination or selectivity of any kind. The State of Qatar condemns the targeting, killing or maiming of civilians in armed conflict or in situations of foreign occupation. We condemn all acts of reprisal against civilians or against civilian targets such as schools and hospitals.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“In spite of the efforts that have been made - such as the inclusion of protection in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of a Council Expert Group on the Protection of Civilians and plans to address violence of all kinds, including killing, maiming and sexual violence - any such developments remain of limited value, as the Secretary-General notes in his report (S/2009/277), if they do not translate the provisions of Council resolutions into concrete fact. In that regard, we recall the report's observation that the protection of civilians is not a purely humanitarian task; rather, it is a multifaceted task.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“Mr. Al-Nasser (Qatar) (spoke in Arabic): The State of Qatar attaches utmost importance to the question of the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and I thank you, Sir, for the opportunity to participate in today's important debate. I wish also to thank Mr. John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, for his important briefing. Today's open debate takes place 10 years after the Security Council's first discussion on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. That important discussion led to the Council's adoption of many resolutions calling for improved conditions for civilians affected by war and its attendant humiliations.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“Similarly, the convening of international rather than regional workshops is essential to the sharing of information, since smuggling can occur between two countries on different continents. Finally, I should like to join previous speakers in emphasizing the need for all States and regional organizations to cooperate with the Security Council's counter-terrorism Committees. In that regard, I stress the commitment of the State of Qatar to cooperating directly and through regional organizations, pursuant to the decision on countering international terrorism adopted by the Council of Ministers of the League of Arab States in March.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“In that regard, I note that, last March, Doha hosted a regional workshop on the implementation of the resolution, which highlighted the importance of regional information-sharing and provided an opportunity to improve understanding of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). There can be no doubt of the importance of regional information-sharing and of convening similar workshops in the countries of the North, with the participation of other countries. All such workshops to date have been held in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean or the Middle East, while none have taken place in developed countries. The problems discussed in these meetings are not exclusive to the countries of the 30 South.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“That being said, the best way to achieve that is to eliminate such weapons, prevent their proliferation and enforce relevant international instruments, in particular the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In the same vein, resolutions relevant to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction should not be used as a pretext to hinder the use of materials, equipment and advanced technology for peaceful purposes or to prevent countries from enjoying their rights to such use, in accordance with relevant international instruments. Like other Member States, the State of Qatar recognizes the importance of the effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“In stressing the commitment of the State of Qatar to the aforementioned principles, allow me to note that a few days ago the capital of my country, in cooperation with the United Nations, hosted a regional workshop on the observance of human rights in the context of the fight against terrorism, with a view to raising awareness about the legal framework for combating terrorism, respect for human rights and international cooperation in that area. With regard to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), I would like to emphasize that no political issue should interfere in the Committee's non-proliferation work. The Committee must remain focused on preventing the flow of weapons of mass destruction to non-governmental actors.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“It was also encouraging to note that in December the Committee set out to implement the provisions of resolution 1822 (2008) regarding amending its guidelines, and that it has started the de-listing, as necessary, of certain entries on the consolidated list and the granting of more humanitarian exemptions. The Committee should continue to review all the names on the consolidated list and complete the task as soon as possible, before next year's scheduled date, with a view to remedying certain unacceptable situations, such as the inclusion on the list of the names of deceased persons. To that end, throughout our membership of the Council, two years ago, we strove to have the names reviewed periodically, in accordance with the Committee guidelines.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Resolution 1822 (2008) was the culmination of tireless efforts to emphasize due process in the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999). The resolution stated that sanctions measures are not based on specific criminal criteria, but are solely preventive and political in nature, but this does not absolve the Council or the Committee of the responsibility to respect the judgements of national, regional and international courts. Furthermore, the adoption of these procedures, especially in including individuals and entities on the consolidated list, enhances the credibility of the Security Council and of the actions it takes to combat terrorism. Accordingly, it was encouraging to see communication between the Committee and the European Court of Justice last year.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) too called for respect for human rights while countering terrorism, as also stipulated in resolution 1456 (2003). Moreover, efforts must be intensified to strengthen system-wide coherence, as work is under way on Council reform, in order to achieve genuine coordination with the General Assembly in the field of counter-terrorism. We have repeatedly called for greater objectivity in the Council's methodology for assessing the progress made by States in implementing resolution 1373 (2001). We therefore welcome the adoption this past December of procedures to be followed by the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) to assess progress, and we look forward to the balanced implementation of those procedures in practice.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“We call upon all Member States to work professionally in the month ahead during the review of the draft comprehensive convention on terrorism, which will deal with the question of the definition of terrorism. The work of all United Nations organs, including the Security Council and its subsidiary bodies, should be guided by the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, which the General Assembly adopted at its sixtieth session and reaffirmed this past September. Consideration must be given to the objectives and elements of the Strategy, including the need to take human rights and international law into account in the context of combating terrorism: the Strategy was not adopted to guide the work of the General Assembly alone.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Today, I would like to touch again on issues such as the lack of a definition of terrorism, the need to observe legal due process and human rights in counter-terrorism efforts, the importance of objectivity and transparency in the work of the Committees and the importance of coordination with other United Nations organs, especially the General Assembly. At their summit meeting in Doha in March, Arab States condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of its source, its motives or its justifications. They stressed the need to work to address the roots of terrorism and to eliminate the factors that fuel it. We are fully aware of the difference under international law between terrorism and the legitimate right to struggle for liberation from foreign occupation.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“Mr. Al-Nasser (Qatar) (spoke in Arabic): Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this debate on an item that relates to one of the most significant challenges to international peace and security. I thank Their Excellencies the Chairmen of the three Security Council Committees for their briefings. The briefings were of great importance because, although the work of the Security Council counter-terrorism Committees is of interest United Nations Member States, their only chance to learn about this and formally make comments on it is at these open biannual briefings. With each of these meetings, we see progress in the work of the three Committees, but we continue to have the same concerns about their work.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128 (2009) · source
“the Accord of Good Intentions and Confidence-building, signed in Doha by the Government of National Unity of the Sudan and their brothers, the Justice and Equality Movement of Darfur. My country still endeavours to complete this effort, with the participation of Mr. J ibril Bassole, Joint Mediator of the United Nations and the African Union. This also demonstrates what I mentioned about the usefulness of cooperation between the United Nations and relevant regional organizations. The State of Qatar also made contacts to resolve the differences between some Arab countries and the West, and some internal Arab differences. I cannot go into details here, but those efforts are within the scope of the maintenance of international peace and security through mediation to settle disputes.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“That national reconciliation opened the door for the election of a president of Lebanon, ending the state of instability. We would like to highlight in this regard that the Qatari mediation efforts in Lebanon were in accordance with the decision of the Council of the League of Arab States that established an Arab ministerial committee to mediate an end to the political crisis in Lebanon, which demonstrates the importance of the role played by regional organizations in the field of mediation, as I mentioned earlier in my statement. Last February, another agreement was reached in Doha as a result of mediation efforts by the Government of the State of Qatar, i.e.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Finally, allow me to move from theory to present a part of the practical experience of the State of Qatar in diplomatic mediation, since it includes some shining examples of what mediation can achieve in bringing the parties to a dispute to the negotiating table so they can reach agreements to end their differences, or in putting them on the track of settlement if that mediation is fair, honest and impartial. We highlight in this regard the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, in May of last year to bring Lebanese parties to the dialogue table in Doha, and the success of these mediation efforts in reaching the Doha agreement, which was supported by the Security Council in a presidential statement (S/PRST/2008/ 17).”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In particular, support from regional arrangements in resolving regional conflicts is embedded in the Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The Security Council has recognized this on several occasions recently when discussing cooperation with regional and subregional organizations. We recall that the Council, in its presidential statement S/PRST/2008/36, was intent on enhancing the support provided by the United Nations to regional and subregional mediation efforts through the enhancement of cooperation. We welcome that move and call upon the Council to fulfil that pledge.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“There is no doubt that the endeavours and good offices efforts exerted by the Secretary-General, either directly or through his representatives and special envoys and United Nations mediators, aiming at the resolution of conflicts in many regions of the world, are commendable and worthy of assistance and support. Therefore, the State of Qatar annually supports the Trust Fund to Support Special Missions and Other Activities Related to Preventive Diplomacy and Peacemaking, in the belief that the diplomatic efforts of the Secretary-General and the United Nations are important. The United Nations must also support regional and subregional arrangements with a view to reaching peaceful settlement of disputes, taking into account the specificities of each region due to its circumstances, which the regional arrangements understand best.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Based on the views and proposals that I have mentioned, we believe that the recommendations of the Secretary-General contained in his report to the Council on this matter are worthy of consideration. The establishment of the Mediation Support Unit of the Department of Political Affairs, which provides the necessary expertise to support mediation efforts of the United Nations and of the regional and subregional organizations, constitutes a step forward. We should continue to develop the activities of that Unit and its involvement with Member States under the principle of respect of sovereignty.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“It is also important to strengthen and consolidate the genuine desire of the participants in the dialogue process to reach a genuine settlement. We must work to mobilize the necessary momentum in order to support and implement mediation-driven agreements, to achieve consensus and, in some cases, to secure reconstruction processes. There is also a need to keep the efforts of mediation processes from being sabotaged by some stakeholders. The efforts for reconciliation and accord between conflicting parties will be doomed to failure in the long term if we do not work towards spreading a culture of peace, renunciation of violence, acceptance of others and peaceful expression of disagreement among the parties to the conflict and their popular bases.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In the same vein, the intermediary has to be fully aware of the underlying root causes and origins of the conflict. He also needs to have a thorough understanding of the characteristics of each case and each region and take them into account, particularly conventions, norms and agreements that exist between the parties to the conflict. The mediator must have the open-mindedness that allows him to understand and respect the cultures, sacred symbols and the views of the parties to the conflict. Last but not least, the mediator must, by having these qualities, gain the trust of the parties to the dispute. Other factors play a role in the success of mediation. Indeed, it is of critical importance that all influential stakeholders, or those that are likely to influence the durability of the settlement reached, take part in the negotiations.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We also encourage the Council to continue to attach premium importance to the issue of mediation and its promotion, including by considering the possibility of establishing a subsidiary body entrusted with the task of seeking ways of enhancing mediation by third parties and other means of peaceful settlement of disputes and disagreements. If we carefully examine the factors of success of dispute resolution through diplomatic mediation, we can conclude that that success is predicated upon a number of elements. The mediator must be fair-minded, truthful, impartial and without vested interest in the continuation of the conflict or in a specific outcome to it. The best example of the importance of impartiality in mediation is the persistence of the crisis in the Middle East for over six decades.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Therefore it is a cause of concern to see that in recent years Council resolutions have been frequently adopted under Chapter VII. In addition, the deployment of peacekeeping forces and other measures of the use of force result in a much greater financial burden than the cost of diplomatic mediation. Hence the relevance of the saying "prevention is better than cure". Consequently, diplomatic mediation remains the most effective way to reach the desired peaceful settlement, as experience has shown in many cases. The Security Council must therefore encourage all forms of mediation that contribute to the peaceful resolution of disputes.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We were similarly satisfied to witness the consensus expressed at that time by members of the Council on the importance of supporting and encouraging mediation efforts at the international and regional levels. That consensus was expressed explicitly through the adoption of presidential statement S/PRST/2008/36. Mediation is at the heart of the work of the Security Council and the mandate conferred on it by the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security. When we talk about the mandate of the Council, we must consider the purposes of the Charter, which emphasizes early and peaceful solutions of conflicts, especially in Chapter VI. Although the Council also has a mandate under Chapter VII, the latter must be used only as a last resort when need arises.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Mr. Al-Nasser (Qatar) (spoke in Arabic): We congratulate you, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this month, and thank you for holding this open meeting and giving us the opportunity to make our own contribution to the debate on this important subject. I associate myself with the statement made by the representative of Cuba on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We are glad that you have chosen the issue of mediation for the thematic debate of the Council during your presidency, and we also welcomed the thematic debate held by the Council last September under the presidency of the President of Burkina Faso to consider this important subject.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In addition, we call on all friendly nations to show their solidarity with the Palestinian people in their plight and to support them in their just struggle to enjoy their legitimate and inalienable rights, in particular the right to independence and self- determination and the right to establish their own State on their national soil, with Jerusalem as its capital.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“If the peace process is to succeed, all segments of the Palestinian population must be involved. It is unacceptable that some are attempting to divide the Palestinian people into Hamas and Fatah factions, as the occupation does not distinguish between the parties, but affects everyone. No national differences should serve as a pretext for Israel to continue its occupation and aggression against unarmed civilians or to divide the Palestinian people or the Palestinian territory. Nor should the Palestinian people be punished for exercising their right to vote in accordance with the principles of democracy that we all advocate. We call on the Palestinians to achieve unity and reconciliation.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In addition, long before that, the leadership of the State of Qatar launched the Fakhurah campaign, named for the school shelled by the Israeli army, which raised $110 million through a telethon. The situation prevailing in the occupied Palestinian territories highlights once again the importance of achieving peace in the Middle East through the peace process, which requires the utmost efforts of the international community. The Security Council must put an end to the double standards and reluctance with which it has addressed an issue that not only poses a direct, serious and clear threat to international peace and security, but also constitutes a grave humanitarian situation. We therefore demand that the Council fully shoulder its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Similarly, the State of Qatar has been among the leading supporters of the Palestinian people, both bilaterally and through the decisions of the Council of the League of Arab States. His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, took the initiative of convening an emergency Arab summit in Doha to support the Palestinian people, at which he announced the establishment of a fund for Gaza's reconstruction, to which he donated $250 million. In addition, the State of Qatar has sent in-kind assistance to the Palestinians by sea and air and has provided support through the United Nations, the Emir having contributed $40 million to United Nations humanitarian agencies and programmes providing emergency assistance to civilians in Gaza.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Given the seriousness of targeting United Nations facilities and staff and the need to ensure their safety, we welcome the Secretary- General's establishment of a Board of Inquiry and look forward to its findings. The dire humanitarian situation facing the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory requires that international donors meet Palestinians' basic needs and finance the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the Israeli war machine. The State of Qatar played a leading role in the international efforts that brought about an end to the Israeli aggression against Gaza - efforts culminating in the adoption of resolution 1860 (2009) on 8 January 2009.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Mary Robinson have called for the establishment of a board of inquiry to shed light on the war in Gaza, to conduct an accurate, comprehensive and fair investigation into all accusations related to the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict and to make recommendations regarding appropriate measures to ensure the prosecution of the perpetrators of those violations. In particular, there is a need to investigate the Israeli army's direct attacks on schools of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in Gaza in order to determine who was responsible for those crimes and to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The same conclusion has been reached by a number of non-governmental organizations active in the human rights field, including Amnesty International, which indicates that the devastation caused by the recent Israeli invasion of Gaza constitutes a war crime. Likewise, the organization Physicians for Human Rights believes that the Israeli army violated the rules of ethics and international law by targeting paramedics and by preventing injured people from receiving treatment. Well-known persons such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ms.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Prior to that, Her Highness addressed a letter (S/2009/12) to the Security Council calling on it to shoulder its responsibilities and investigate the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians, including women and children. We are now hearing calls from several quarters urging that the perpetrators of war crimes and other violations that occurred in Gaza be brought to justice. Mr. Richard Falk, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, recently reported that there was sufficient reason to conclude that the Israeli military operations in Gaza constitute crimes against humanity.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Abdullah Al-Misnad, Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar and UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, promptly condemned the destruction of educational institutions in the Gaza Strip, calling on the Security Council to develop without delay a plan to identify those schools and educational institutions and to mark them in a conspicuous manner so that they might serve as safe havens for students and their parents. She also stressed the importance of allowing humanitarian aid and basic materials to enter those schools and institutions and of allowing the sick and injured to be transported out of them.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Targeting a school with an artillery shell is a heinous crime. Nothing could be worse than the targeting of a school used as a shelter for defenceless civilians fleeing the shelling of their homes. What makes it even more heinous is the fact that the targeted building was clearly marked as a United Nations facility. Worst of all, the attacks were repeated. The repetition of those war crimes underscores the fact that they were premeditated and coordinated acts.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The military operation was not balanced, but rather a unilateral massacre, as described by Dr. Kevin Cahill, Chief Adviser for Humanitarian Affairs of the President of the General Assembly. Therefore, we must investigate those Violations and bring their perpetrators to justice in order to do justice for the victims and prevent such criminal acts from ever being committed again. Many serious human rights violations were clearly evident, including the use of prohibited chemical weapons such as white phosphorous and the targeting of densely populated buildings and even houses of worship, hospitals and schools. The human conscience demands that we uncover the facts concerning all the human rights violations committed during that armed aggression and that we deny impunity to the perpetrators of those crimes.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“It is necessary now to lift the siege on Gaza, to open the crossings and to ensure the freedom of movement of persons, goods, materials and of the equipment necessary for reconstruction. In general, we must put an end to this policy of collective punishment and ensure the protection of Palestinian people. The end of military aggression does not necessarily mean that we forget about the terrible atrocities that have been committed by the Israeli war machine against the unarmed civilians in the stricken Palestinian territory. The Israeli aggression on Gaza has been marked by many war crimes and crimes against humanity. Worse yet, the entire war constituted a war crime, because it included violations of international law, international treaties, relevant international humanitarian law and even the norms of warfare.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“It is needless to remind the Council of the deaths, destruction and tragedies that resulted from that three-week military campaign launched by the Israeli authorities on a people that are suffering the worst humanitarian situation in the world. Nor do I think that I need to repeat what the Council has been hearing frequently over many months about the serious consequences of the Israeli blockade and siege imposed on Gaza Strip and the grave humanitarian situation resulting therefrom. While the worst forms of aggression have stopped, the aggression is still continuing today. Indeed, it has been going on for years, for the siege, the blockade, the starvation imposed on the people of Gaza are a form of aggression. Consequently, the cessation of hostilities in itself is not enough.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Allow me at the outset to salute you, Mr. President, and congratulate you on your appointment as Permanent Representative of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations in New York. I wish to congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month and to commend you for all your efforts and endeavours on this item: the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. I would also like to thank Mr. B. Lynn Pascoe, Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs, for his briefing on behalf of the Secretary-General. This is the first time that the Security Council is holding an open debate since the end of what the Israeli occupation forces dubbed "Operation Cast Lead" in the occupied Gaza Strip.”
2009-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6100Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The Security Council today, faced with the indiscriminate aggression against the Gaza Strip, must shoulder its responsibilities towards the Palestinian civilian victims, especially the Palestinian women and children who have been maimed, burned and buried under the rubble by the Israeli war machine, which has spared no one. We would like to remind the Security Council that it is fully responsible for its failure to enforce its most recent resolution, among several others that provide for the protection to which the afflicted Palestinian people are entitled, and to stop the massacre being committed against them.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The school provided protection for the children of Gaza and their families, who took refuge in the premises, believing they were in a safe haven. Forty- five people were killed and another 130 were wounded. We reiterate our call on the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, meet its obligations to protect civilians in armed conflict and ensure respect for the instruments of international law and Security Council resolutions, which provide the legal basis for the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including in situations of foreign occupation. The rule of law constitutes a fundamental issue in armed conflict. It is therefore imperative for us to realize that respect for international law constitutes the true basis for a world free of armed conflict.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The continuous targeting of such institutions leaves no safe areas for the civilian Palestinian population to shelter. This situation prompted Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar, in her capacity as UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, to address a letter to the Secretary-General on 5 January, calling upon the Security Council and the international community to ensure the necessary protection for educational institutions in Gaza with a view to providing a safe haven for the children of Gaza and their families, allowing access to humanitarian assistance and basic materials and evacuating the sick and the wounded. The world has witnessed how Israel targeted the Al-Fakhura School run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“United Nations reports, including reports by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and UNICEF, highlight the dire situation in which Palestinian children and their families are still living. Entire families have been killed and buried alive under the rubble of their homes. Those who have managed to survive suffer psychological trauma that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. Others have suffered serious injuries and have become mentally and physically disabled. The Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip is subjected to a campaign of collective punishment, as stated by Mr. Richard Falk, the Special 3 Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The infrastructure in Gaza, including hospitals and schools, is also under constant attack.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In a speech delivered on 4 January 2009, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, called on the international community to undertake efforts for the protection and relief of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. His Highness highlighted that the Israeli war machine targets everybody and does not discriminate among its victims. He also said that a war waged with such force against civilian targets cannot but constitute a war crime, as it clearly violates international humanitarian law and international human rights laws, including the Geneva Conventions, and in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, which includes provisions on the protection of civilians under foreign occupation. The number of Palestinian civilian killed in Gaza Strip has almost reached 1,000. What are we going to do about it?”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“This in turn emboldens the perpetrators and gives them carte blanche to commit such acts. Conversely, when the international community has been determined to enforce the laws necessary for the protection of civilians in times of armed conflict and to achieve that through existing mechanisms, it has succeeded on many occasions in fighting impunity, ensuring the protection of civilians and strengthening their human rights. Today, the war on the Gaza Strip enters its nineteenth day. Palestinian civilians in Gaza are subject on a daily basis to relentless military attacks by Israel, the occupying Power. Such attacks do not discriminate between women, children, the elderly or people with disabilities.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“They also prohibit reprisals against civilians and civilian targets, including health and educational institutions, and the deliberate destruction of homes. These laws confirm that the wilful commission of such prohibited acts constitutes a war crime. Despite the principles and provisions that represent legal safeguards for the protection of civilians in armed conflict, such conflicts are still claiming the lives of innocent civilians, whose fundamental rights and freedoms are being violated. The problem, therefore, lies in the non-implementation of international legal instruments and in the use of 09-20856 double standards in addressing various situations in which the international community has failed to enforce international laws and resolutions and to hold the perpetrators accountable before such laws.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Mr. Al-Nasser (Qatar) (spoke in Arabic): The State of Qatar attaches great importance to the protection of civilians in armed conflict. I therefore thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the opportunity to participate in this important debate today. I would also like to thank Mr. John Holmes, Under-Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, for his important briefing. The Security Council has clear responsibilities in the area of protecting civilians in armed conflict, including situations of foreign occupation, which are governed by the rules of international law. International humanitarian law, and international human rights law in particular, prohibit killing civilians and exposing them to harm.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source