Her Highness' Speech at “United for Peace in Palestine” Summit

 

Greetings and thank you to Her Excellency, First Lady Emine Erdoğan, for bringing us together today to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. She has always been a staunch supporter and stands at the forefront of this cause. I also salute the esteemed ladies present and I hope we will succeed in achieving our goal.

 

I am always honored to be present wherever principles are upheld –

 

Where voices and wills unite in solidarity with the residents of Gaza, who remain steadfast and resilient, in the face of attacks by the Israeli occupation forces, which have no regard for international law.

 

I commend all those around the world who have raised their voices in support of the people of Palestine.

 

I salute the millions of you who have attended demonstrations or spoken out about the war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement.

 

We have all seen the violations of international humanitarian laws and human rights without consequence. The disturbing images of brutal airstrikes targeting civilians, burying them in the rubble of their own homes, seem not to prick the consciences of members of the international community who have the power to act.

 

I quote His Highness the Amir of Qatar’s statement at the recent summit in Riyadh: “The international system fails itself before it fails us by allowing the bombing of hospitals, neighborhoods and camps.

 

“The international community has failed to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities and take whatever action is necessary to prevent war crimes. We wonder for how long the international community will continue to treat Israel as being above international law?”

 

Esteemed Guests…

 

We have lived with this reality for decades.

 

We have watched Israel promote fabricated narratives. These false narratives have been refuted by many historians, including Israelis themselves.

 

These narratives have been allowed to dominate the collective imagination, and those who dare to challenge them face accusations of anti-Semitism – which, in itself, is a problematic concept.

 

It limits Semitism only to Jewish people, as if they alone have this heritage, denying it to other peoples who speak the Semitic languages: Arabs, Syriacs, Assyrians and Chaldeans.

 

I am not here today to provide a lesson in history, but to say that when any narrative is accepted in silence, when it is not examined, when its sources are not analyzed, it will endure over time and come to occupy the position of ‘truth’.

 

And the contention around Semitism is a clear example of a false narrative taking hold.

 

Even we, as Semitic Arabs, have accepted it without thought or discussion. In any debate, we try to shield ourselves from accusations of anti-Semitism – forgetting that we are Semites ourselves.

 

But my point is: we do not accept any hostile acts toward humanity, wherever they may come from – whether the descendants of Shem, Ham, or others.

 

 

Across the world, we must reconsider our acceptance of narratives that have been dictated to us over the decades.

 

We must check our facts. When we report the news, we must do so with accuracy and objectivity. And we must not fall into the trap of accepting and believing fake news that aims to distort reality.

 

The Islamic world must counter false narratives, whether through the media, through intellectual or cultural means, or through official channels.

 

We must do this for the sake of the current generation.

 

We must promote the truth wherever we can.

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen.

 

The statistics of this war, the stark records of loss of life and property, reveal its horror.

 

From October 7^th until yesterday, 11,320  have been martyred and many more injured.

 

Our martyrs include 3,130 women and 4630 children.

 

According to the WHO, in Gaza a child is dying every 10 minutes. At the conclusion of this speech, another child will have lost his life, and by the end of this session a further 18 children will be dead.

 

Eighteen children who will never have the chance to realize their potential because someone has murdered them in cold blood.

 

The blood continues to spill and the number of fatalities – including elderly people, children and women –  continues to rise.

 

Israeli warplanes have launched more than 3,300 raids. Small wonder that hundreds of buildings have been reduced to rubble. Hospitals and medical facilities have been rendered useless and thousands of residential and governmental facilities have been destroyed, along with places of worship: both mosques and churches.

 

Education infrastructure has been razed. The academic year has ground to a halt with the destruction of 253 schools have been destroyed. 

And yet in 2021 the UN Security Council's unanimously adopted in 2021 a resolution propsed by Qatar strongly condeming attacks on schools, children and teachers. 

This resolution urges parties engaged in conflict to protect the right to education. What is happening in Gaza is in complete disregard of this resolution.

 

It is sad to see that the international community is failing to apply pressure to Israel to – at the very least – stop targeting hospitals and schools amid the devastation it is wreaking.

 

Based on my deep conviction in rebuilding education, understanding that rebuilding education rebuilds hope for the future, I will continue in supporting the education sector in Gaza, through Education Above All Foundation, with the support and funding from the State of Qatar.

 

I am proud of our nation, which has refused to sit on the sidelines, and has taken a stand in the making of history.

 

A bright image of Qatar will be preserved in the memory of Arab and Qatari generations. It may be a small country in population and size, but it is great in its ambition, morals, and principles. Qatar has taken a stand in contrast to countries that claim greatness and claim to stand for democracy. This war in Gaza has exposed their lack of greatness and the double standards of their democracy.

 

We know where we must stand. For as long as two opposing intentions exist — the intention to build and the intention to destroy — there is no other option for us — whether moral, legal or ethical — but to stand with those who intend to build.

 

I am reminded of when I was invited, by then Director General Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, to become a UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, I held great respect for the organization. I was profoundly hopeful that, together, we could achieve genuine change in the field of education.

 

As we bear witness to the killing and destruction taking place in Gaza, the silence from UNESCO, is deafening. To remain silent while people and places are targeted, and especially students and schools does not align with UNESCO and its mandate on any level.

 

We have the responsibility to criticize this silence, just as our states have the responsibility to apply pressure — pressure to stop the war and open the borders, to save Gaza’s health sector, and to give people access to the necessities of life.

 

Last but not least…

All that we do for the pople of Gaza, It is less than what is owed to them. 

 

At this wretched moment in history, the people of Gaza represent the dignity of the ummah.

 

Palestine’s children are the embodiment of dignity. They teach us integrity and resilience.

 

I bow to you, glorious children of Palestine.

 

You will always be our source of pride.