Minister Shaheen Briefs a Delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on the Latest Developments

Minister Shaheen Briefs a Delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on the Latest Developments

On March 8, 2025, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Shaheen briefed a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE led by Ms. Pia Kauma, on the latest political developments, the ongoing political and diplomatic efforts to counter displacement plans targeting the Palestinian people, and key aspects of the Palestinian reconstruction plan adopted by the Arab Summit to rebuild the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was attended by Ambassador Adel Attiyeh, Director of the Europe Department, along with other senior ministry officials.

Minister Shaheen provided an overview of the dire situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and the unprecedented challenges facing the Palestinian cause. She highlighted Israel's systematic policies of killing, destruction, starvation, forced displacement, abuse, and arbitrary detention, emphasizing that these actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the absence of international accountability. She further underscored that Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza with impunity.

The Minister also warned of the escalating Israeli measures in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, describing them as an extension of the devastating policies implemented in Gaza. She pointed to the alarming Israeli assaults in the northern West Bank, including intensified military raids, closures, and checkpoints that have fragmented the territory and imposed suffocating restrictions on Palestinian movement. She also condemned the restrictions on worshippers entering Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan, denouncing them as a blatant violation of religious freedom. Additionally, she addressed the coordinated attacks on UNRWA, stressing that efforts to undermine the agency aim to dismantle its mandate and strip Palestinian refugees of their rights.

During the meeting, Minister Shaheen stressed that the immediate priorities are to secure a lasting ceasefire, facilitate the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid, ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and restore the full authority of the Palestinian government and its institutions in the Strip. She also reaffirmed the urgent need to halt settlement expansion and Israel's attempts to annex Palestinian land. The Minister further outlined the three-phase Relief, Early Recovery, and Emergency Response Plan developed by the Palestinian government to address the catastrophic situation in Gaza.

Shaheen also highlighted key decisions from the Arab Emergency Summit and the Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, which rejected all forms of forced displacement and called for a clear political pathway to end the occupation and realize the Palestinian state. She urged the OSCE delegation to mobilize support within their respective countries for the Palestinian government's reconstruction efforts and to push for international pressure on Israel to cease its assault against the Palestinian people.

For her part, Ms. Kauma reaffirmed the OSCE's unwavering support for the Palestinian people's right to an independent and sovereign state, in line with the organization's resolutions. She also stressed the importance of securing a ceasefire, guaranteeing unrestricted humanitarian access, and supporting the reconstruction plan to enable the Palestinian government to fully assume its responsibilities in Gaza.