GENEVA: Kuwait has strongly denounced Zionist continued construction and expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly condemning a recent scheme aimed at forcibly displacing residents from the Gaza Strip. Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen, voiced the country’s position during a debate at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which focused on the human rights situation in Palestine.

Ambassador Al-Hayen criticized the Zionist government’s decision to separate 13 illegal settlement neighborhoods in the West Bank, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and multiple UN resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 2334. He further condemned Zionist’s breach of a ceasefire agreement, which has led to tragic consequences, including the loss of civilian lives, particularly among women and children.

Calling on the international community to uphold its legal and moral obligations, Al-Hayen urged concrete measures to halt settlement activities and ensure adherence to international resolutions. He also underscored the need to halt recent attacks on Syrian territory. Reaffirming Kuwait’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, he stressed the importance of sustained political, economic, and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. He reiterated Kuwait’s commitment to their inalienable rights, including self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the borders of June 4, 1967, in accordance with international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Continued aggression

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has condemned the ongoing aggression by occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the forced displacement, starvation, injuries, and deaths of thousands of Palestinians. The GCC’s position was conveyed by Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, in his capacity as head of the GCC ambassadors’ board. His remarks came during a debate on a report by the UN Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.

Al-Hayen denounced the continuous attacks on the West Bank, which have resulted in systematic destruction of infrastructure, and called on the international community to intensify efforts to protect human lives and prevent further escalation in the occupied territories. Stressing the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire, he urged support for the Egyptian plan announced during the extraordinary Arab summit held on March 4, 2025.

Speaking on behalf of the GCC states, Al-Hayen reaffirmed their firm stance that the future of the Gaza Strip must be determined within the framework of a unified and independent Palestinian state with the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital. He also condemned the recurring Zionist attacks on Syria, the occupation of the no-man’s zone on the Syrian border, and the expansion of settlements in the occupied Golan Heights, labeling them as flagrant violations of the UN Charter, international law, and relevant Security Council resolutions.

Ambassador Al-Hayen reiterated the GCC’s steadfast commitment to supporting just Arab causes, defending the legitimate rights of peoples, and ensuring that the international community upholds international humanitarian laws to prevent further violations against innocent civilians. - KUNA