Today marks the 106th anniversary of the ill-fated Balfour Declaration, issued by British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour on 2 November 1917, meant to establish a national homeland for the Jews in Palestine. However, on this occasion, the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and throughout the occupied Palestinian territory find themselves caught in a fierce and escalating destructive war. This conflict has resulted in thousands of martyrs and tens of thousands of innocent civilians injured due to the devastating Israeli bombings, including a series of ongoing and heinous bloody massacres. The latest of these atrocities took place in the Jabalia refugee camp, claiming the lives of more than 500 martyrs. This grim reality brings the number of genocidal massacres since 7 October 2023 to over 950, targeting innocent and defenseless civilians, especially children and women.
The current events unfolding in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank are a continuation of the historical series of massacres, displacement, and the expulsion of the land's original inhabitants that began with the ill-fated Balfour Declaration. The responsibility for addressing this dire situation lies with the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, which must take decisive and swift measures to protect and bring justice to the Palestinian people. Among the repercussions of this disgraceful historical statement and the ongoing criminal war is the urgent need to compel the Israeli occupation authorities to immediately cease their aggression against civilians. It also entails putting an end to the policies of forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, and the systematic destruction of the lives of the Palestinian people. Additionally, it calls for confronting the apartheid regime, colonial settlements, and the desecration of Islamic and Christian lives and sanctities, particularly in the city of Jerusalem and the Holy Mosque.
The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States emphatically reiterates its call to the international community to take immediate and decisive action to halt the relentless war imposed upon the Palestinian people. Urgent steps are needed to facilitate the swift entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The General Secretariat also emphasises the imperative to urgently implement the decision of the United Nations General Assembly, as endorsed during its emergency special session on 26 October 2023. This decision pertains to "Illegal Israeli actions, protecting civilians, and adhering to legal and humanitarian obligations."
Furthermore, the General Secretariat urges the Security Council to exercise its powers responsibly, applying the principles of international law with a commitment to justice and fairness. It calls for overcoming any state of incapacity or absence and actively working to provide international protection for the Palestinian people who are currently under an unprecedented and fierce Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including the city of Jerusalem.
The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States applauds the unwavering determination and resilience demonstrated by the Palestinian people, acknowledging their invaluable and substantial sacrifices to reclaim and exercise their inherent and lawful entitlements to freedom and independence. The pursuit of establishing their independent state on their national soil further underscores their commitment. The General Secretariat expresses profound pride in the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian people and recognises their steadfast defence of their inalienable rights. It reaffirms unwavering support from the Arab nation, states, and peoples for the remarkable perseverance and noble endeavours of the Palestinian people as they strive for freedom, independence, and the realisation of their independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Additionally, the General Secretariat emphasises the importance of being on the right side of history, aligning with the just cause of the Palestinian people. It underscores that there is no alternative formula, and the key to regional stability and security lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This approach is in accordance with the relevant laws and resolutions of international legitimacy, as well as the Arab Peace Initiative.
