Geneva: Oman stresses need to uphold human rights in occupied Palestinian territories

The Sultanate of Oman emphasised the importance of adhering to the standards outlined in the High Commissioner for Human Rights‘ report on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The High Commissioner's report called for the unconditional withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from Gaza and rejected any attempt to undermine the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Idris bin Abdul Rahman Alkhanjari, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, expressed appreciation for the findings of the report, during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council. However, he noted that the report does not sufficiently reflect the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe affecting the people of Gaza.

The Ambassador highlighted the pressure exerted on the  United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other international institutions operating in the occupied Palestinian territories.

He also criticised the international stance, particularly that of some Western countries, which often disregard Palestinian rights and apply double standards in addressing human rights issues. This, he stated, reflects an unacceptable selectivity in dealing with the situation.

He further pointed out that the report lacks balance, as it fails to adequately address the disproportionate harm suffered by Palestinian victims due to the Israeli occupation and its devastating actions in Gaza.

He added that it is unacceptable for the international community to merely request that the occupation allow food and medical teams into Gaza, as these are basic rights enshrined in international law. He asserted that international institutions must continue to exert pressure to bring an end to this decades-long tragedy.