ShareBy Faten Omar and Passant Hisham
KUWAIT: A powerful stand for unity and support for the Palestinian cause unfolded on Wednesday at the Embassy of Palestine in Kuwait, as dozens of ambassadors and officials representing Arab, African, European and Latin American countries assembled to express unwavering solidarity. The gathering was organized by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps along with the Iranian ambassador, highlighting the collaborative efforts of nations to address the ongoing challenges faced by Palestine.
Ambassador of Palestine to Kuwait Rami Tahboub thanked the presence of ambassadors from Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Arab nations, affirming that their stand with Palestine is a message to the occupying state that the world is aware and knows the truth about who is right and who is wrong; who is the oppressed and who is the oppressor.
Tahboub praised Kuwait’s role in supporting Palestinians in international forums and the aid provided. “Kuwait’s position cannot be described. It was a surprise that the leaders of Kuwait opened their opening session of the parliament by talking about Gaza. This alone is sufficient for us to see the position of Kuwait as a leader, along with its people and parliament. Dedicating today’s session to Palestine reflects what Palestine means to the Kuwaiti people and leadership, and all words of thanks will not be enough,” he said.
The Palestinian ambassador demanded the international community to stop the war and aggression on Gaza. “More than 10,000 Palestinians were killed and wounded, including those still under the rubble. We need you all to work to stop this genocide. Palestinians want to live like any other people in the world, in dignity and respect, and all we are asking for is our independence. Don’t we deserve it?” he asked.
Tahboub affirmed that the international community has to know that Palestinians will remain in their homes and will never leave, even if the Zionist occupation kills every single Palestinian. “Governments must know that we will not leave our country. Most of the Western media, especially the American one, is trying to write another chapter of the Palestinian people’s history, which is October 7. Our tragedy started in 1948 not on October 7. And this date will never be accepted as a new chapter for the Palestinian people,” he stressed.
Ambassador of Iran Mohammad Toutounchi affirmed his country’s position on the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people is clear and principled. “Our position is a humanitarian position based on the rules of international rights and the United Nations Charter. Palestine has the right to defend itself. The resistance of the Palestinians against the occupier and the continuous violation of their human rights is a legal and legitimate defense against injustice, aggression and transgression,” he said.
“The right to legitimate defense is an intrinsic right that is explicitly recognized in the United Nations Charter as well as internationally. Unfortunately, we do not see any actions to prevent massacres and bombings against the Palestinians. The Zionist entity is still practicing genocide and killing in Gaza, and with its aggressive invasion of Gaza, the issue will enter a fateful and irreversible stage,” Toutounchi warned.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of Tajikistan Zubaydullo Zubaydzoda, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, extended his sincere condolences to the brave Palestinian people for the loss of thousands of civilians, especially women, children and the elderly, as martyrs during clashes and military operations. He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the cessation of any military operations and the preservation of defenseless civilians, especially women, children and the elderly.
“Targeting unarmed civilians and bombing hospitals, schools and civilian infrastructure facilities are unacceptable and must stop immediately. We fully support the Arab initiative, which provides for a two-state solution and the establishment of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he added.
Ambassador of Iraq Al-Manhal Al-Safi said: “Our presence today in the solidarity stand with Palestine is the least we can offer to these heroes who are facing brutal killings that have been going on for weeks. We hope for a ceasefire so that we can bury our martyrs in peace and achieve victory.”
Sudanese Ambassador Awad Al-Karim El-Rayah noted that Palestinians are being subjected to genocide in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by the Zionist entity. “I agree with the Palestinian ambassador that the tragedy started in 1948, and the wars after that led to today. I ask God for Arabs’ solidarity with the Palestinian cause, the cause of Arabs and Muslims, and that the Arabs can impose their vision in this matter based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and that a Palestinian state be established. I hope that Arab leaders will provide the necessary support to Palestine in this critical historical circumstance,” he said.
Turkish Ambassador Tuba Nur Sonmez indicated that her country has always been a strong supporter of the Palestinian people. The ongoing occupation has increased its atrocities and the Zionist regime has turned into a terror state, not acknowledging any kind of international norms, rules and regulations. “These are all crimes in humanity. We believe that Palestinian people will return to their original homeland, and we believe in the two-state solution with the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. There’s no other solution,” she pointed out.
Sonmez stressed Zionist violence and crimes cannot be justified by any group’s activity, noting she doesn’t believe Hamas is a terror organization. “Hamas is a political party, so if the people of Palestine chose them to represent them in Gaza, we have no right to say anything but to respect their will. This is democracy,” she said. “We see the hypocrisy and double standards of Western media all around the world because they are not portraying the real picture in Gaza. But people, through social media and independent journalism, reach real information, and we know exactly what kind of horror and terror is going on in Gaza,” the ambassador added.
Charge d’Affaires at the Lebanese Embassy Ahmad Arafa expressed his country’s support and solidarity for Palestinians who are being subjected to a systematic and barbaric war, ethnic cleansing and genocide by the Zionist enemy. “For us as Lebanese, this behavior is not strange, for the Zionists to violate all international conventions and international laws. What surprises us is the silence from the international community regarding what is happening in Gaza. It pains us to see the tragedies that children, women and the elderly are subjected to at a time when they are supposed to live a decent life,” he concluded.
