Bangladesh has called for urgent international action to end Israeli occupation, illegal settlement expansion and human rights violations in Palestine, reaffirming its support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Irene Khan, made the call at an open debate of the UN Security Council on “The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question” in New York on Friday, according to a press release received on Saturday.
Expressing grave concern over the humanitarian devastation in Gaza, Khan condemned the continued suffering of Palestinian civilians and escalating Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
She also raised concerns over increasing land confiscation, violence and illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
“The deadlock in the Security Council has enabled Israel to operate with impunity,” she said.
Khan urged the Security Council to take decisive measures to halt annexation, forced displacement and human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
She stressed the need to ensure accountability for violations of international law and protect the fundamental rights of Palestinians.
Reaffirming Bangladesh’s longstanding position, the ambassador said Dhaka remained firmly committed to supporting the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination.
She also called for uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and full respect for the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Khan stressed that humanitarian agencies must be allowed to continue providing essential assistance to vulnerable Palestinian populations.
Turning to the wider Middle East conflict, she condemned Israeli attacks and occupation in Syria and Lebanon, warning of their implications for regional peace and stability.
She emphasised the need for an adequate United Nations presence in Lebanon and offered Bangladesh’s support in this regard.
The ambassador also strongly condemned deadly Houthi attacks on airports in Saudi Arabia that caused civilian casualties, including among Bangladeshi migrant workers.
She expressed concern over the threats such attacks posed to civilian lives and regional security.
Reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment to promoting a Culture of Peace, Khan urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law.
She also stressed the importance of collective international efforts to prevent further escalation and ensure lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
