Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, calls on the international community to assume its responsibilities and recognize a fully-fledged Palestinian state as a member of the United Nations. In recognition In recognition of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, adopted by General Assembly Resolution No. (40/32) on 2/12/1977, as a UN occasion celebrated annually on November 29th to express solidarity with the Palestinian people. This official celebration commemorates the General Assembly’s decision on November 29, 1947, Resolution No. (181), which called for the partition of Palestine into two Arab and Jewish states and the designation of Jerusalem as a separate entity under a special international regime. This occasion provides an opportunity for the international community to recognize a fully-fledged Palestinian state as a member of the United Nations. Despite the UN’s decision to partition Palestine on 29/11/1947, granting Israel the establishment of its state on Palestinian land in 1947, even though it was not within its powers to create states, the UN took a decision to divide Palestine into two states. On 29/11/1949. However, this decision was a violation of its charter, principles, and purposes. Nevertheless, Britain, which was colonizing Palestine at the time (as the mandate authority), managed to convince the world to establish the state of Israel through a General Assembly decision that voted in favour of recognizing Israel. However, this recognition was conditional on the acceptance of certain Arab states according to the text of the resolution, a condition that Israel agreed to. Nevertheless, Britain abstained from voting on the partition resolution.
“SHAMS” Center emphasizes that this occasion comes this year as the Israeli war and killing machine has intensified its shedding of the blood of the Palestinian people in its heinous aggression on the people of Gaza. The number of martyrs due to the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people since 7/10/2023 has exceeded (15,000), with more than (33,000) wounded and about (6,000) missing. There has been targeting of civilian facilities, destruction of infrastructure, a clear and explicit violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, especially the Geneva Conventions, the Hague Convention, and the fundamental charter of the International Criminal Court. All of this has happened in full view and hearing of the entire world, which has not moved a finger to stop these well-established crimes that constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and even rise to the level of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
“SHAMS” Center renews its call to the international community, the United Nations, and the countries that established the state of Israel to correct the mistake committed by the United Nations and several world countries. This correction should be achieved by enabling the Palestinian people to determine their destiny and establish their independent state on their national land. Despite the passage of (75) years since the resolution, the Palestinian people continue to struggle for the establishment of their independent state in accordance with international legitimacy. In the face of massacres and atrocities committed against the Palestinian people, the world still turns its back on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. This reaffirms the application of double standards and reflects the world’s policy of dealing with the Palestinian issue.
“SHAMS” Center appreciates the positions of friendly countries that support the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people and have recognized Palestinian states as non-member observers in the United Nations. The Center calls on these countries to recognize the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations. It views the stance of the United Nations General Assembly in dedicating this day to solidarity with the Palestinian people as a step in the right direction. However, the Palestinian people seek practical stances that reflect a supportive political will for their rights. This includes recognition of their independent state as a full member of the United Nations, rather than merely celebrating this day to express solidarity and sympathy with the Palestinian people.
“SHAMS” Center condemns the positions of countries that endorsed, supported, and assisted in the current Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. These countries, which have long touted liberal values, democracy, human rights, and international law, have once again fallen from grace with their support for the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. They have embraced the Israeli narrative and gone even further by militarily supporting Israel, providing it with political cover in the United Nations to shield it from condemnation, obstructing decisions of the International Security Council, and serving as a cover and umbrella for Israel to commit further crimes against the Palestinian people. This means that these countries not only align with Israeli occupation policies but also stand alongside the occupying state in its ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people. They see Israel as a state playing a functional role in serving their interests in the Middle East. These countries may have departed from colonialism geographically, but they have not abandoned it in terms of thought, practice, and application. They are still haunted by their colonial history, and their subjugation to the peoples of the world continues.
“SHAMS” Center emphasizes that the world is obligated to respect the decisions of international legitimacy and enable Palestinians to exercise their right to self-determination, establishing their independent national state on their historical land. This obligation is not solely based on international legitimacy and international law but also on historical rights and the presence of Palestinians on their land without interruption. This continuity is rooted in the historical legacy of the Palestinian people in this land, as they have developed their culture, national heritage, national identity, and true historical narrative on their land across generations without interruption.
“SHAMS” Center emphasizes the historical precedence of the Palestinian people in their land and homeland. The Israeli occupation’s claims to this land based on distorted Biblical and Talmudic allegations are groundless and lack any foundation or credible source. Regarding Britain, which granted the Jews the Balfour Declaration on 2/11/1917 and occupied Palestine on 9/12/1917, legally and politically, Britain had no connection to Palestine. Palestine was not a British colony or an extension of Britain. It was one of the states of the Ottoman Empire. The land was granted to the Zionist movement by Britain, which “invented” the concept of the mandate, not recognized in international law, and imposed it on the League of Nations that it dominated at the time. Britain devised the mandate to enable the Zionist movement to establish a national homeland for Jews in Palestine. This means a violation of international law and a blatant assault on legal norms.
“SHAMS” Center renews its call to the Palestinian National Authority to take immediate action in filing a complaint with the International Court of Justice in Hague. This is to seek an advisory opinion on the legality of the Balfour Declaration, which enabled the Zionist movement to establish a national homeland for Jews in Palestine. The Center urges Britain to bear legal, political, and ethical responsibility for the sufferings and tragedies inflicted on the Palestinian people because of the Balfour Declaration.
On the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians, Shams Center emphasizes that international legitimacy is indivisible. It is high time for the world to unite in order to enable the Palestinians to exercise their right to self-determination and establish their independent national state on their land. For (75) years, the Palestinian wound has continued to bleed, and the caravans of martyrs and the wounded persistently move toward the symbol of freedom. Their souls are deeply rooted in their sacred land, enriched by the blood of the resilient and patient, who yearn for freedom like other nations around the world.