FM Attaf’s Address to the UN Security Council: Urgent Call for Action on Palestinian Issue 

New York, Tuesday, October 24, 2023- In an address to the United Nations Security Council, Ahmed Attaf, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, articulated a call for immediate action in the Middle East, shedding light on the critical situation regarding the Palestinian issue.

Acknowledging the extraordinary circumstances in which this session was convened, Minister Attaf expressed his gratitude to the President and highlighted the vital importance of addressing the distortion and manipulation of essential facts surrounding the Palestinian cause.

Minister Attaf began his speech by examining the root causes of the escalating crisis in the region. He emphasized two key factors: the international community’s near-complete neglect of the Palestinian issue and the unwarranted tolerance shown toward the Zionist occupation, which has been granted absolute, unbridled, and unconditional impunity.

Discussing the marginalization of the Palestinian cause, Attaf pointed out the complete disappearance of this issue from the international community’s priority list, as well as the lack of serious peace initiatives since the early 1990s, marking nearly three decades of diplomatic stagnation.

Moreover, he underscored that the Palestinian issue has become a hostage in the pursuit of peace and stability in the Middle East, eroding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and dismantling their national aspirations.

Minister Attaf criticized the blanket immunity granted to Zionist occupation forces, pointing out that it has led to further land grabs and territorial annexation, particularly in the West Bank. These actions, he argued, threaten the very foundation of a fair and lasting two-state solution to the Arab-Zionist  conflict.

The speech continued with a stark condemnation of the effects of this impunity. It has contributed to the emergence of unprecedented Zionist governance that promotes extremism, expansion of settlements, and the erosion of Palestinian national rights and the vision of an independent Palestinian state.

In addressing the current crisis, Minister Attaf made a clear plea to the Security Council. He called for the immediate lifting of the harsh blockade imposed on Gaza, characterizing it as a complete war crime. He urged an end to the indiscriminate shelling that has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians, resulting in war crimes and potential acts of genocide. Additionally, he demanded the cessation of population displacement, deemed another crime, bordering on ethnic cleansing. Lastly, he called for unrestricted humanitarian aid to be provided to the people of Gaza.

Looking towards a political solution, Minister Attaf emphasized the Security Council’s responsibility to uphold international law and justice. He argued that a sustainable peace cannot be built on oppression and discrimination and stressed that resolving the Palestinian issue is a prerequisite for peace in the Middle East.

In conclusion, Minister Attaf challenged the Security Council to reconsider its stance on the 87 resolutions adopted since the inception of the Zionist-Palestinian conflict. He questioned whether these resolutions should remain confined to the council chambers or whether the council would act resolutely to ensure their enforcement. He reminded the world of the historical moment it currently faces, where the Security Council bears the sole and unaltered responsibility to address this crisis and uphold the principles of international law.

Minister Ahmed Attaf’s address to the United Nations Security Council resonated with urgency and a heartfelt call for justice, accountability, and a meaningful commitment to resolving the Palestinian issue. It is a stark reminder of the pivotal role the international community, and the Security Council in particular, plays in ensuring peace, security, and justice in the Middle East.