Story by; Nsor Paul Mensah
The Palestinian Ambassador to Ghana H. Е. Мг Abdelfatah Alsattari , Said If the Israelites want peace they should go and sit with the Palestinian people and seek peace from Them.
Ambassador Abdalfatah A.K. Alsattari, said this at the observance of the International Day of support for the people of Gaza and Palestinian in Ghana-Accra, with the support of representatives from 23 embassies.
The event was attended by dignitaries from the Embassies of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Angola, Sudan, Libya, Kuwait, Qatar, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, Cuba, and Peru, along with the High Commissioners of South Africa, Pakistan, Malaysia and Nigeria.
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners expressed their unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine and Gaza, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis they are facing. They described the situation in Gaza as genocidal and pledged continued support for Palestine until a lasting resolution is achieved. One diplomat remarked, “Only someone lacking humanity would ignore the suffering in Gaza. The blood of the Palestinian people will pave the way to reclaim their dignity.”
The Ambassador of Algeria to Ghana,H.E. Mr. Mourad Louhaidia said Gaza is facing a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe. The situation is even further worsened by the recent escalation of Israel's military operation.
As you all know, Palestine is a national cause for Algeria and has always been at the forefront in advocating for the realization of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their independent State with Al Quods Al Sharif as its capital.
He revealed that, the creation of the State of Palestine was declared its in Algiers in November 1988, and since then many countries and international organizations recognized Palestine as State despite all the horrific occupation policies implemented on the Palestinian land against all the international law and the human rights rules.
The President of the Republic of Algeria, Mr Abdelmadjid Tebboune, described what the Palestinian people are experiencing of aggression as "an Israeli genocidal war."
He also affirmed that "it is this will to live and emancipate that cannot be buried by heinous bombings, vile destruction, displacement plans, and ethnic cleansing scenarios that the Zionist occupier has persistently committed against our brothers in occupied Palestine, nor by the genocide and war crimes it continues to commit (...) in the Gaza Strip, crimes for which history will remember the perpetrators among the criminals and enemies of life and humanity."
Algeria as non permanent member in the UN Security Council is playing a crucial role in the support to the Palestinian cause, calling for an Immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to end the ongoing humanitarian tragedy, affirming its rejection of any plan aimed at forcibly displacing the Palestinians.
In last February Algeria presented a draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza which was vetoed by the US.
In April, Algeria presented a draft resolution to the UNSC on the admission of the State of Palestine as a UN member and was vetoed by the US.
Despite the US veto, Algeria is determined to make Palestine's voice heard within the UN SC Algeria will not stop until the Security Council fully assumes its responsibilities.
Algeria provided much needed support to UNRWA with a financial contribution of $15 Million.
The General Assembly's adoption of the resolution granting new rights and privileges to the State of Palestine aligns with your advocacy and tireless efforts towards Palestine membership in the UN.
Algeria underlined in its plea before the ICJ the importance of submitting to international laws relating to occupation and having them respected.
"I would like to remind here the position of my country Algeria: the only way to end the tragedy in Gaza, being subjected to a Zionist aggression for nearly 10 months, was to ensure the Palestinian people's inalienable right to create their own independent State, with Al Quds Sharif (Jerisalem) as capital. This is the sole and only means of settling the Palestinian issue and restoring peace, security and stability in the region of the Middle East.
And Allow me to copy the great African leader Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to say that "Our freedom, the freedom of the independent nations in the word, is meaningless unless it is linked up with liberation of the Palestinian people from the Apartheid Zionist regime"
Ambassador Alsattari extended his gratitude to the participating countries and their representatives for their unwavering support for Palestine. He affirmed that the unity of the Arab nations has been crucial in sustaining the Palestinian cause. He also noted that both African and Arab unity are often undermined by external forces, drawing parallels between the challenges faced by these regions.
Ambassador Alsattari provided a somber update on the ongoing conflict, stating that since October 7, 2023, Israeli actions have resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 people, including women, children, journalists, doctors, nurses, and students. He added that more than 12,000 individuals are trapped under rubble, their status unknown. He further reported that approximately 75% of housing, along with schools and mosques, have been bombed and destroyed, leaving the population without basic necessities like electricity and water, while Israel continues to seize Palestinian land.
He concluded by emphasising that if Israel desires peace, it must engage in dialogue with Palestinian leaders and cease the violence, as force alone cannot quash the Palestinian pursuit for freedom.