Qatar has told the UN Security Council that ending Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is necessary to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. Qatar’s UN ambassador, Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, made the remarks during a council session on escalating tensions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group.

Al-Thani condemned what she described as Israel’s ongoing serious violations in Gaza and the West Bank. She said Israel had rejected both a Palestinian state and a broad plan for 2025 involving an end to war, the release of hostages and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip through a US-led multilateral agreement.

She said these actions were fundamentally weakening collective efforts to implement the plan and called for its full implementation. The Qatari ambassador also said Palestinians’ right to self-determination must be ensured. She welcomed the growing international recognition of the State of Palestine.