His Highness the Amir delivers address before UN General Assembly

25 September 2024

His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, delivered a speech at the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. HH the Amir addressed prominent regional and international issues, most notably the Palestinian issue, highlighting Qatar’s mediation efforts and its role in bringing conflicts around the world to an end.

HH the Amir began his speech by highlighting the war on Gaza, saying: “The blatant aggression that befalls the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip today is the most barbaric, heinous and extensive breach of human values, international charters and norms.”

HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, added: “There are those who are tempted by the possibility of either marginalising this issue to get rid of its burden, or seeing it vanish without resolving it, but the Palestinian cause cannot be marginalised, because it is an issue of indigenous people on their own land who are subjected to a settler-colonial occupation.”

In this regard, HH the Amir touched on the mediation efforts made by the State of Qatar and the humanitarian work it has provided, saying: “For us, mediation and humanitarian work are strategic political choices at both the regional and international levels. They are a moral duty before being political decisions, and we act without expecting anything in return”

HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani referred to the war currently being waged by Israel on Lebanon, saying: “No one knows to what extent this war could escalate. This is what we have repeatedly warned against if the brutal war on Gaza doesn’t end. This systematic destructive war must stop.”

HH the Amir also touched on the situation in Yemen, expressing the State of Qatar’s hope of “preserving the 2022 truce and proceeding therefrom towards a comprehensive ceasefire, resolving the crisis, ensuring Yemen’s unity and achieving the aspirations of its brotherly people.”

In light of the crisis in Syria, HH the Amir stressed the State of Qatar’s position in favour of the interests of the Syrian people as well as the unity and integrity of Syria’s territories, saying: “it is our hope that the parties and countries involved in the crisis will be convinced of the necessity for dialogue and understanding to end this crisis in accordance with the Declaration of Geneva and Security Council Resolution 2254.”

On the Sudanese issue, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani called on all Sudanese parties to stop the fighting, saying: “We affirm our support for all regional and international efforts to end this crisis in a way that will ensure the unity of state institutions and the sovereignty and stability of Sudan.”

Regarding the situation in Libya, HH the Amir, said: “We support the political trajectory and the implementation of Security Council resolutions, and we urge all parties to recourse to dialogue and overcome differences in order to complete the comprehensive national reconciliation.”

In conclusion, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani stressed that “The State of Qatar will spare no effort in working with its international partners and the United Nations to firmly consolidate the pillars of peace, security, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law at all levels and to address global challenges in order to achieve a better future for all.”