Geneva – Oman has reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

Oman also stressed that supporting the Palestinian economy should be viewed not only as a response to the current crisis, but as an investment in peace, stability and the future of the region.

The position was outlined in Oman’s statement before the 73rd session of the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), under Agenda Item 6 on the report on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian people.

The statement was delivered by Idris Abdulrahman Al Khanjari, Oman’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva.

Al Khanjari said the figures presented in the UNCTAD report reflected the scale of the economic and humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where nearly 92% of economic establishments have been destroyed or damaged.

Recovery and reconstruction needs are estimated at about $16.2 billion, he said.

“These are not merely figures and economic indicators,” Al Khanjari said, noting that the destruction represents lost businesses, jobs, income sources and livelihoods that are essential to a dignified life and a sustainable development future.

He said the Palestinian economy was facing a deep and unprecedented crisis that had intensified sharply since October 2023, with restrictions weakening its capacity for production, trade and investment and undermining the foundations of economic growth and sustainability.

Al Khanjari stressed that reconstruction should not be viewed simply as physical rebuilding, but as an integrated developmental and humanitarian process linked to protecting the Palestinian people’s right to a dignified life, particularly amid deteriorating food security and livelihoods.

He said addressing the economic crisis must also tackle its structural causes, including the continuation of the Israeli occupation, restrictions on the movement of people and goods, disruption of economic and commercial activity, and constraints on production and development.

Oman said recovery and reconstruction require a comprehensive and sustainable international response focused not only on emergency assistance, but also on rebuilding infrastructure, restoring productive capacity, supporting the private sector and small and medium enterprises, reviving commercial activity and strengthening the resilience of the Palestinian economy.

Al Khanjari also reaffirmed Oman’s support for the statement delivered by Palestine on behalf of the Arab Group, as well as statements by the Group of 77 and China and the Asia-Pacific Group.

He underscored the importance of UNCTAD’s continued role in providing economic analysis, technical assistance and capacity-building to Palestinian institutions.

Al Khanjari said reconstruction and sustainable development could not be separated from achieving a just and lasting peace, stressing that economic and development empowerment of the Palestinian people requires addressing the factors preventing sustainable development.

He also thanked the UNCTAD Secretariat for its report and its continued efforts to monitor economic developments, provide technical assistance, build capacities and support the resilience of the Palestinian economy.