“On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we reaffirm our commitment to peace and justice and adamantly confirm that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible. We also call upon the international community to urgently and unequivocally stand in defence of the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights” H.E. Manuel Hassassian.
In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (resolution 32/40 B). On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution of the partition plan of Palestine (resolution 181). By adopting the resolution 60/37 of December 1st 2005, the Assembly requested the “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People” and the “Division for Palestinian Rights”, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on November 29, to organize an annual exhibit in portrayal through a cultural event and in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN.
By and large, Israel maintains entrenched discriminatory system involving the abuse of personal freedom, collective punishment, the use of excessive lethal force, and prolonged administrative detentions. This is portrayed by the ongoing Israeli incursions into the besieged Gaza, and the latest of which led to the destruction of some 1252 housing units and the displacement of thousands of families. Moreover, since the beginning of 2018, 52 children were killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and since July of this year, 63 Palestinian women were arrested including journalists and mothers.
Israel continues to systematically violate, with impunity, all international humanitarian and human rights standards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It continues to build and support illegal settlements; thus, expropriating Palestinian land and forcing families to evacuate their houses involuntarily. During the first half of 2018, the illegal building advancement of housing units continued at a higher level than in previous year. In addition, 6,000 housing units were decided for implementation in the West Bank and Jerusalem through several stages and also with more than 2,100 housing units already being intact.
In culmination to the indiscriminate systematic policies by Israel, the Palestinian People find themselves denied their fundamental protections of their lives properties and lands. And in the light of the above, we call upon the international community and the United Nations to act immediately and with no restraints to put an end to the occupation which is utterly repulsive and inhumane. Furthermore, we request that pressure should be exerted on Israel to end its persistent violations and ensure the right of self-determination to the Palestinian People in adherence to international law.