Muscat – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have affirmed their firm position on the Palestinian issue, and their support for the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over the Palestinian territories occupied since June 1967.

A statement delivered by H E Idris bin Abdulrahman al Khanjari, Oman’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, on behalf of the GCC at the 52th session of the UN Human Rights Council, called for guaranteeing the rights of the Palestinian people.

He exhorted the international community to do more to find a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the conflict, in a way that ensures all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

H E Khanjari pointed out that the GCC countries condemn the repeated Israeli violations against Palestinian people, the latest of which were committed in the city Jenin and in the Nablus region, which resulted in many casualties and dozens of wounded civilians.

He told the session that GCC countries condemn the occupying forces’ continued violations by demolishing homes, property and places of worship, and repeated incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque. “All these are serious violations of international laws and norms and provocation of the feelings of Muslims.”

The GCC states call on the international community, H E Khanjari added, to ask Israel to reverse its illegal settlement decisions and put an end to its policy of escalation, which is in clear violation of all laws and international resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution No 2334.

The Israeli authorities approved a draft law on February 12 to build a number of settlement outposts and plans to build thousands of new units in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the city of Jerusalem. “The GCC states also condemn the Israeli Knesset’s decision of March 21, which allows the return to four settlements in the West Bank from which the Israeli occupation forces withdrew.”