The 9^th Meeting of the PUIC Standing Committee on Palestine was held on 4 Rajab 1440 H.C. corresponding to 11 March 2019 as a part of the proceedings of the 14^th Session of PUIC Conference.

The Meeting was chaired by His Excellency Mr. Habib El Malki, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The Meeting was attended by representatives of Parliaments of the following States: State of Palestine, People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Kingdom of Bahrain, Republic of Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Kingdom of Morocco, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Sudan, United Arab Emirates representing the Arab Group; Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Turkey representing the Asian Group; Burkina Faso, Republic of Cameroon, Republic of Senegal representing the African Group The Meeting was also attended by representatives of the Parliaments of Uganda, Tunisia, and Libya.

Three new Parliaments joined the Standing Committee on Palestine following the approval of the participating delegations. These include: Kuwait’s National Assembly, the Parliament of Lebanon, and the Parliament of Egypt.

The Chairman of the Meeting made a valuable statement welcoming the delegations and reaffirming the prominent status of the Palestinian cause for the members of the Union in general and Morocco in particular. This status is particularly evident in the care allocated by Moroccans, including the King, People, Parliament, Government, political parties, and civil society. He added that the Chairmanship of King Mohammed VI of the OIC Al-Quds Committee is an embodiment of this status.

The Chairman made reference to the milestones marking 70 years of suffering of the Palestinian people, describing them as advocacy works for justice, equity, and right as well as for facing injustice and occupation, underlining that the logic of history proved that no occupation could be eternal.

The Chairman pointed out that the nobleness of the Palestinian Cause, its scale, and its status among Islamic peoples and among all justice and peace-loving peoples compelled the Islamic States to be committed to the Cause, keeping their differences away.

He concluded by calling upon the Palestinian leaders to unify their ranks and put an end to the division among the different components of their State.

His Excellency Mr. Mouhamed Khouraichi Niass, Secretary-General of the Union, subsequently addressed the participants. He commended the resilience of the Palestinian people in the face of the arrogant Zionist Occupation and in the face of their plans to obliterate the Palestinian identity. He then indicated that the most important items in the agenda of the present Meeting are the repercussions of moving the US Embassy to Al-Quds, the necessity to safeguard the unity of the Palestinian people, and the need to achieve Palestinian national reconciliation.

Thereafter, Mr. Khalid Mismar, member of the Palestinian National Council, read out a statement on behalf of Mr. Najib Kadoumi, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on Palestine. Mr. Kadoumi drew a picture for the participants about the ongoing violations inside the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These include crimes against humanity and violations of all international laws and norms, mainly killings, destruction of homes, arbitrary arrests, invasion of Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard, air bombardment of the East of Khan Youness in Gaza Strip which has been besieged for 12 years, continuing the building of thousands of housing units in Al-Quds region and its surroundings. He pointed out that the number of detainees has reached 7000, including 350 minors and 58 woman. He also emphasized the fact that Palestinians categorically reject the deal of the century that was declared by Trump.

The following delegations made interventions thereafter:

Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, State of United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, State of Kuwait, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Senegal, Republic of Lebanon, Kingdom of Morocco, Arab Republic of Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Uganda, and Republic of Cameroon. The majority of the statements focused on numerous themes, mainly:

1. To reaffirm the centrality of the Palestinian Cause for the Islamic Umah;
2. Categorically reject the deal of the century;
3. Al-Quds is the capital of the independent State of Palestine and is part and parcel of the Palestinian territories. The decision of the US President with reference to Jerusalem and the moving of the US Embassy whereof is considered null and void as per the relevant UN resolutions;
4. To condemn Israeli crimes committed against the defenseless Palestinian people, and to call upon the international community to put an end to the Israeli blatant violations of international humanitarian law;
5. To condemn the US decision with regards to UNRWA aiming at crossing off the Palestinian refugees’ cause as a part of the so-called deal of the century;
6. To call upon the Palestinians factions to put an end to their division and to reinforce their national unity;
7. To draw attention to the suffering of the Palestinian people in general, and those in Gaza Strip in particular;
8. To categorically reject the normalization of relations with the Zionist entity in all fields, including political, economic, and cultural fields;
9. To commend Indonesia’s initiative which managed to compel Australia to go back on their decision to move their Embassy to Al-Quds; and to urge all Islamic states to do likewise.
10. To notify Brazil, whose President is planning to pay a visit to the Occupied Palestinian territories soon, in order not to move their Embassy to Al-Quds, otherwise Brazil will be facing to an economic boycott from the Islamic States;
11. To support the proposal of the the National Assembly of Kuwait with regards to providing an international protection to the Palestinian people as an emergendy item at the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union;
12. To reaffirm the necessity to take action with regards to the resolutions made on Palestine to back up words with actions and in order for the Palestinian people to feel that the Islamic Umah is backing them;
13. The “March of Return” is a legitimate right and a remarkable Palestinian innovation that has to be supported until the desired objectives are achieved;
14. The “Jewishness of the state” law is a racist legislation which contradicts the norms and rules of international laws observed worldwide;
15. To commend the activities of the Palestinian Committee chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and its affiliated Bayt Mal Al Qods Agency.
16. To commend the efforts of Jordan with regards to sponsorship of sanctities and to reaffirm the Hashemites’ guardianship on them;
17. To pay attention to Israeli infiltration in the African continent and to counter it through providing support for African countries to overcome economic challenges facing them.