PM Mustafa calls on Non-Aligned Movement to take action for Palestinian freedom, an end to Israeli occupation

NEW YORK: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Mohammad Mustafa, urged member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to transform their unwavering solidarity with Palestine into concrete political, diplomatic, and legal efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation, dismantling the apartheid system, and achieving Palestinian freedom alongside a just and lasting peace. Mustafa's remarks came during his address on Monday at the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Conference, focusing on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. The conference was held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mustafa demanded during his speech accountability for Israel, and a halt to all dealings with illegal colonies and all arms transfers. The Prime Minister emphasized that Israel makes no secret of its agenda to erase the Palestinian people, their heritage, identity, and presence on the lan d of their ancestors. He said that Israel openly advocates for the forced displacement, subjugation and genocide of the Palestinian people, adding that Israel does not hide its racist ideology, and openly imposes its apartheid regime on the Palestinian people. Expressing his deep gratitude to the Non-Aligned Movement for its steadfast support of the Palestinian cause, Mustafa said that the Non-Aligned Movement has been at the forefront of global solidarity with the Palestinian people, "which is a reflection of the brotherly ties between our nations and our shared history of struggles for liberation, which led to the triumph of independence and sovereignty and inspired the Palestinian quest for justice." He said: "Over the past year, your solidarity has been demonstrated in international forums, including the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. These principled stances were reaffirmed in the declarations issued at the Non-Aligned Movement Summit and Ministerial meetings, most recently in Kampala, Uganda, he added. Mustafa highlighted the critical timing of this meeting, describing it as an existential moment for the Palestinian people, who are enduring the darkest chapter since the Nakba of 1948. He pointed to the denial of the Palestinian legitimate rights, including the right of return and self-determination, while suffering from forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, colonization, repression, apartheid, and genocide at the hands of the Israeli occupation. He further addressed the atrocities, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli occupation, throughout the occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem. 'Israel has inflicted death, destruction, devastation, trauma and unspeakable humiliation on our people in the Gaza Strip, brutally targeting every aspect of life and turning it into a graveyard for entire families, and imposing a humanitarian catastrophe. He said the pop ulation in Gaza, who are trapped under siege, faces hunger, disease and unspeakable suffering. The Prime Minister also tackled Israel's accelerated annexation plans, theft of land and resources, its forced displacement of Palestinians, colonial expansion, violation of the historical and legal status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He also addressed the escalation of violence by the Israeli occupation forces and extremist colonists across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, noting that the situation has grown increasingly dire by the day. Source: Palestine news & Information Agency - WAFA