Libya reiterates support for Palestine

During the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly’s Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee, Libya’s advisor to the Permanent Mission, Hatem Al-Thalab, delivered a speech reiterating Libya’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Al-Thalab condemned the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians, who he said have been subjected to policies of racial discrimination since the 1948 Nakba.

He specifically highlighted the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip due to the current aggression and called for accountability and justice.

In addition to addressing the Palestinian issue, Al-Thalab urged the international community to take effective measures to combat all forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia, and racism.

He referred to Africa’s long history of persecution and the lingering effects of colonialism, calling on former colonial powers to acknowledge their moral responsibilities and provide fair compensation to the peoples of the continent.

The Libyan representative also raised concerns about bigotry and prejudice against Islam and Muslims, which he said has been reinforced under the pretext of freedom of expression.

He emphasised the need for the United Nations to remain united against Islamophobia in all its forms, including travel bans on Muslim countries, the desecration of the Quran, and bans on the hijab and other Islamic symbols.

The speech was part of the general discussion held by the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee, one of the six main committees of the United Nations General Assembly, which deals with issues related to social, humanitarian, and human rights matters.