New York, September 21 (QNA) - HE Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, affirmed that the State of Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, continues to play a pivotal and consistent role in supporting the Palestinian cause and people, both politically and humanitarianly. He praised Qatar’s principled and clear stance against the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Mansour said they highly value Qatar's firm and principled position, and that of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who refuses to compromise the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the right to self-determination, establishment of an independent state, and return of refugees.

He noted that Qatar has played a central role in various regional and international efforts to halt Israeli aggression on Gaza, stressing that the Palestinian leadership strongly condemns the attack on Doha by Israeli occupation forces on September 9.

Mansour explained that this serious incident prompted the convening of emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, attended by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which produced strong and clear outcomes from 57 countries condemning the Israeli aggression against Qatar and expressing full solidarity with both Qatar and the Palestinian people.

He added that Qatar is a highly significant sisterly country for Palestine. Its positions are valued and influential, and it plays a decisive and clear role in supporting the Palestinian cause, in close cooperation with many brotherly and friendly partners who spare no effort to support the resilience of the Palestinian people.

On the humanitarian situation in Gaza, he stated that Qatari aid represents a lifeline for the afflicted people of Palestine, who are suffering from the criminal aggression, especially children, women, the elderly, and the disabled, with tens of thousands martyred, hundreds of thousands wounded, and thousands still trapped under the rubble.

He pointed out that thousands of aid trucks are currently halted in Al-Arish, Egypt, awaiting permission to enter through Rafah crossing, urging Israeli occupation authorities to lift all obstacles and allow the aid to reach humanitarian agencies, primarily UN institutions and their agencies.

Mansour highlighted that UNRWA has advanced infrastructure across Gaza, with 400 distribution centers and over 13,000 Palestinian staff familiar with all areas of the Strip, making them best equipped to deliver aid in an organized and fair manner to those in need.

Regarding Palestine's participation in the current UN General Assembly session, he noted that the Palestinian leadership sent a strong message to the world, particularly after the US denied visas to some Palestinian delegation members - a move he described as illegal and violates international norms.

He stressed that the host state has no right to prevent any delegation from participating in the General Assembly's work, regardless of disagreements. Their first message was delivered through a vote of 145 countries in favor of a resolution condemning this obstruction, with only five opposing, reflecting international unity on Palestine's right to representation and participation.

Mansour continued by emphasizing that even if the Palestinian leadership is prevented from being physically present, no one can silence Palestine's voice. They will use all technical and diplomatic means to address the world, and their delegation will meet with all delegations willing to support the cause.

He also noted tangible progress in international recognition of the State of Palestine, saying they expect in the coming phase to approach recognition by 160 countries, including key European and Western states.

He stressed that this shift is not merely symbolic; it represents a direct investment in peace, in the two-state solution, and in international efforts to halt aggression, end the occupation, and enable Palestinians to establish their independent state.

Regarding recent UN Security Council session, which saw 14 votes in favor of a draft resolution calling for an end to Israeli aggression and one against, he said that the world as a whole is on one side, and the United States is on another. But we are patient, determined, and confident that the day will come when no one can cover up Israeli crimes.

He added that protests sweeping Western capitals, and millions calling for an end to Gaza aggression, now form a moral and political pressure that even governments cannot ignore.

Mansour stressed that Gaza is an inseparable part of the Palestinian homeland, and that once aggression ceases, reconstruction should begin immediately with the support of brothers and friends to restore Gaza to its former state.

In conclusion, he noted to QNA that the key to all these steps - from relief to reconstruction, from political solution to international recognition - lies in immediate cessation of Israeli aggression, end of illegal occupation, and realization of the two-state solution as a tangible reality on the ground. (QNA)