Cairo:The Arab League Council, representing permanent members, has appealed to the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention for immediate intervention to safeguard Palestinian people against Israeli occupation crimes and colonist violence. This call aligns with international law, legitimacy resolutions, and pertinent conventions.
According to Palestine news and Information Agency, this urgent plea concluded an extraordinary session at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, requested by the State of Palestine. The meeting focused on securing international protection for Palestinians amid ongoing aggression, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and attacks by armed Israeli colonists, while also ensuring respect for Jerusalem's legal status.
The council has urged the UN Security Council to uphold its duties in maintaining global peace and security by adopting a resolution that ensures international protection for the Palestinian people. This includes implementing relevant resolutions, notably those affirming the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and Resolution 2334 of 2016 concerning Israeli settlements.
The Arab League strongly condemned the increasing attacks by Israeli colonists on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest in the occupied West Bank, which include the destruction of trees, theft of crops, and hindering farmers from accessing their lands. Such actions, the council emphasized, infringe on Palestinians' rights to their land and natural resources.
Further, the council advocated for sustained Arab diplomatic efforts at both bilateral and multilateral levels to secure effective international protection for Palestinians. This includes calling for an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly under the 'Uniting for Peace' procedure.
Additionally, the council urged the Security Council to pass a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, compelling Israel, the occupying power, to abide by its resolutions concerning Palestine, cease all forms of aggression, and adhere to the orders and advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice.
The council highlighted the need for implementing Arab summit resolutions advocating for a boycott of companies operating in Israeli settlements and for categorizing Israeli settlement organizations as terrorist entities on national terrorism lists of Arab countries.
The council also condemned Colombia's intention to open an embassy in Jerusalem, labeling it a grave breach of international law and legitimacy resolutions. It called on the Colombian government to reconsider, warning of potential impacts on Arab-Colombian relations.
The council expressed disapproval of Israeli actions against the British Consulate General in occupied Jerusalem, reaffirming East Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory and commended Britain's stance on the city's legal status, supporting a two-state solution and sanctions against Israeli settlements.
Emphasizing the importance of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the council called for the continued delivery of its services, including in Jerusalem, and urged the Arab Group in New York to ensure the implementation of resolutions at the United Nations and the Security Council.
In conclusion, the council stated that ongoing Israeli aggression and occupation threaten Arab national security and compromise international peace and security. It advocated for stronger joint Arab initiatives and the activation of collective defense mechanisms, such as the Joint Defense and Economic Cooperation Treaty among member states.