Iraq Affirms Strong Rejection of the Settlement and Aggressive Policies Aimed at Bringing about Demographic and Ethnic Change in the Occupied Territories

The Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations, Ambassador Mohammad Hussein Bahr al-Uloom delivered Iraq’s speech during the public session of the United Nations General Assembly, to discuss the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, held on 20 May 2021 in New York.

Ambassador Bahr al-Uloom affirmed in his speech that the Republic of Iraq condemns the assaults committed by the Israeli entity against the Palestinian people, which are a flagrant violation of human rights, international charters and resolutions and an obstacle to the peace process in the region. Acts such as storming the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque and preventing worshipers from arriving to do their ritual prayers, moreover; targeting of defenseless civilians and the subsequent brutal attacks and incessant raids on occupied Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah and the Gaza Strip, as well as the destruction of infrastructure and residential complexes, which led to the displacement of people from their homes, leaving them homeless are all considered a dangerous escalation by the government of this entity and a reflection of its expansionist policies, which do not aspire to achieve any peaceful solutions and stability in the region.

H.E. affirming the steadfast and principled stance of the Iraqi government and people and their unlimited support for the just Palestinian cause, whose sons have been making sacrifices for generations and great material losses, to preserve their inalienable right to establish their independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international resolutions. Iraq also condemns the illegal decisions issued by the Israeli occupation regarding Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and it absolutely rejects the prejudice to the historical right to the land of Palestine.
Ambassador Bahr al-Uloom called on the international community to stand against these settler and aggressive policies and actions that are devoted to the process of ethnic cleansing, demographic change and the violation of the sanctity of places of worship and holy places, in addition to the work to do justice to the brotherly Palestinian people who are subject to genocide, and restore their legitimate rights in accordance with the resolutions of the UNSC and the UNGA. He called for the international community to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities by holding the responsible parties accountable for these violations, take measures to protect civilians under occupation, withdraw from all occupied territories, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, release Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, and to stop Israeli settlement measures aimed at Judaizing the Holy City of Jerusalem.