Form independent int’l commission to take legal action against Israel: FS

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday said an independent international commission must be formed to take legal action against the Israeli authorities for crime and atrocities on the Palestinian people.

He said a ceasefire is not enough for tackling the future violence in Palestine; rather, the immediate establishment of the State of Palestine based on a two-state solution should be the core of all collective efforts.

While sharing his views on Bangladesh's unwavering support and solidarity with the Palestinians, the Foreign Secretary mentioned that Bangladesh's position is clear and unambiguous since Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stood up on international platforms to show Bangladesh's unflinching support for Palestinian rights.

He made the remarks at a webinar titled 'Israel's atrocity against the Palestinians: Where is the Humanity' organised by the Center for Peace Studies of SIPG at NSU.

Professor Abdur Rob Khan, Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), NSU, touched upon the historical perspective of the Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians and the peace process and asked the audience how long the international bodies will let this history continue.

While critically assessing the role of media on the current escalation of the Israel-Palestine issue, Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan talked about the one-sided media narrative, primarily by the US and UK over the years.

However, this view has changed over the years where just western media no longer dominate the media; rather, social media has democratised and opened space for a bigger narrative with the age of visual media, he said.

Sobhan also stated that the crisis has to be seen from the humanitarian perspectives rather than as a conflict between the Muslim and Jewish communities.

Ambassador of Palestine to Bangladesh Yousef SY Ramadan started by asking where is humanity.

He said human rights have been neglected in the cases of Israel's atrocities against the Palestinians. "Due to the lack of a possible justice, the sufferings of the Palestinians have increased over the period. In addition, the entire process of peace talks in the last three decades did not produce anything for the Palestinians."

He said the more the dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation continued in the previous several decades, the more the Palestinians lost their land and lives. "Now resistance is the only viable option for the Palestinian people."

Former Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said the United Nations and the international community should take a strong stand in resolving the crisis. He elaborated the role of UN, OIC and ICC in trying to bring viable solutions.

Though Israel has a history of detesting any multilateral intervention, new investigations such as that of ICC should give the international community to build its motions, he said.

Professor Atiqul Islam, the Vice-Chancellor of NSU, said the Palestinian issue is an emotional issue, not just as Muslims but as a person with any sense of justice, equity, freedom for people and human rights.

He believes justice will prevail, even if not in the near future, but the Palestinians will get their land, freedom, and livelihoods back in the foreseeable future.

The webinar began with the welcome speech of Dr Bulbul Siddiqi, an Associate Professor and a member of CPS.

Professor Tawfique M Haque, Director of SIPG and Chair of the Department of Political Science and Sociology, was the moderator of the webinar.