Delivered by: Mr. Mohamed Arar
At the outset, The UAE expresses its deep appreciation to the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ECSWA) for its essential contributions to the Secretary-General’s report submitted under agenda item 59, as well as for its comprehensive presentation of the report today.
The United Arab Emirates aligns itself with the statement made by the G77 and China, the statement delivered by Mauritania on behalf of the Arab Group, and the statement delivered by Qatar on behalf of the GCC.
Mr. Chair
We address you today with a deep sense of responsibility to speak on the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan.
We are deeply concerned by the increasing challenges that Palestinian and Syrian people continue to face by Israel’s decades long occupation.
The escalating Israeli restrictions on Palestinian access in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza and the West Bank, continue to have serious implications on the ability of Palestinians to exercise their right to self-determination and to manage their own natural resources, which are vital to their livelihoods. Palestinian farmers are increasingly barred from tending their lands, undermining agricultural productivity, while the fishing sector in Gaza has ground to a halt due to damage to ports, boats and imposed limits.
Furthermore, the worsening water scarcity and poor and deteriorating quality have not only aggravated the humanitarian crisis but also strained the broader socio-economic fabric, intensifying the vulnerability of Palestinian people. The gendered impact of the occupation across many dimensions, including food insecurity and access to healthcare, underscores the disproportionate impact on women and girls. At the same time, it is unacceptable that – as the Secretary-General’s report puts it – children face the triple threat of conflict, disease and malnutrition and are deprived of an education.
This is compounded and multiplied by a year-long brutal war on Gaza by Israel and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfolding across the Gaza Strip, due to Israel’s restrictions on access to healthcare, food, clean water, and fuel. This is multiplied by the damage of the war on critical agriculture and infrastructure.
Mr. Chair,
Beyond the immediate humanitarian concerns, sustainable development is also critical. The illegal extraction and degradation of water, land, and other resources affect not just the current generation but future generations as well. Protecting access to natural resources for the Palestinian people and the Arab population of the Syrian Golan is about safeguarding their right to sustainable development.. The international community has a duty to ensure that these resources are managed responsibly, with long-term sustainability in mind.
In this regard, the UAE welcomes the ICJ advisory opinion, which makes clear that Israel’s occupation is illegal and must end, as well as the adoption of resolution ES-10/24. It is unacceptable to ignore the decisions and advisory opinions issued by the highest judicial body of the United Nations – the International Court of Justice. This includes the provisional measures issued by the Court regarding natural resources.
Mr. Chair,
As we move forward, let us not forget that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, dignity, and opportunity. The Palestinian people and the Arab population of the Syrian Golan, like all people, have the right to shape their future, to steward their own resources, and to live in peace and security. Their quest to vindicate their inalienable right to self-determination is not a solitary one, but one that reflects the collective conscience of the international community as a whole.