CAIRO: Representative of HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Ambassador Tareq Al-Bannai, denounced in the strongest terms the Zionist military aggression on the brotherly people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip, which has been escalating over 100+ days. Delivering Kuwait’s speech to 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala on Saturday, Bannai said the Zionist military campaign aims to turn Gaza Strip into an unlivable territory through destruction of infrastructure, homes, hospitals and places of worship.

The Zionist bombardment target civilians, aid workers, medical staff, media people and UN staffers, he noted. Bannai condemned the intensified construction of illegitimate Zionist settlements on occupied Palestinian territories in stark breach of the provisions of international humanitarian law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The Zionist occupation authorities pursue systematically a policy aimed at changing the demographic status quo of, and imposing a new fait accompli in, the occupied Palestinian territories.

Nevertheless, the Palestinian people showed unrivalled valiance and determination in countering the Zionist aggression; they (the Palestinians) are resolute and valiant in their comeback, he stressed. The Zionist entity, as the occupying power, persists in its repressive policies, committing atrocities, arbitrary bombardment of residential areas, eviction of armless civilians forcibly from their homes and denying the Palestinian people their legitimate rights.

The Palestinian people have come under collective punishment due to continuous Zionist air and artillery attacks which have claimed scores of civilian lives, including women, children and elderly people, Bannai pointed out. He urged NAM member states to start lobbying other members of the United Nations that have yet to recognize the State of Palestine to do so and back the Palestinian bid for full UN membership.

He highlighted the need of working out a clear-cut timeframe for Palestinian statehood, noting that the only way forward is through establishing fair, full, durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on the UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative of 2002. All efforts must focus on establishing an independent, fully sovereign State of Palestine within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, he added.

On the achievements made by NAM over the past six decades, he said the movement remains to be a platform for coordinating the views of Third World countries since the Bandung Conference was held in April 1955. Kuwait joined NAM out of its belief in the significance of the core principles agreed by the founding members at that conference, Bannai said. He called for stepping up efforts to realize the aspirations of NAM nations for justice, equality, security, development and prosperity.

The movement, founded 62 years ago by 25 Asian and African nations, convened its 19th summit with the participation of 120 member states, 18 observer states and 10 regional and international organizations. “The huge participation signals the growing political, economic, social and cultural influence of the movement, which could be of great benefit for our nations in their march towards prosperity and progress,” Bannai noted. He thanked Azerbaijan for its successful presidency of NAM over the past four years, expressing best wishes for Uganda, the new president of the movement (2024- 2027).

Bannai, also Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, led his country’s delegation to the NAM summit and will represent HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal at the Third South Summit of Group 77 and China on Jan 21-11. The Bandung Conference in April 1955 agreed 10 core principles that led to the creation of NAM and outlined its role as a voice of the Third World at the onset of the Cold War. – KUNA