In a recorded speech at the 8th Extraordinary Islamic Summit in Riyadh on November 9, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presented five recommendations to address the ongoing brutal Israeli aggression against Palestine. The summit was convened by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to address the unprecedented Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people.
Firstly, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for an immediate ceasefire to halt the unjust and ruthless violation of human rights and international humanitarian laws. She highlighted the continuous devastation in Gaza, with Israel engaging in a merciless rampage, bombing hospitals, civilian infrastructure, and causing the death of thousands, predominantly women and children.
As her second recommendation, Sheikh Hasina emphasized the urgent need for a humanitarian corridor to ensure a continuous, rapid, and safe supply of essential supplies like food, water, medicine, and other lifesaving materials for the trapped residents of Gaza. She urged the international community to act swiftly to establish a secure humanitarian corridor amidst the ongoing Israeli bombing.
Thirdly, Sheikh Hasina underscored the necessity to punish those responsible for the killing of innocent civilians and the use of barbaric means, creating an environment of terror. She called for accountability to ensure that the people in Gaza can lead peaceful lives in their homeland.
In the fourth recommendation, Prime Minister Hasina urged a revisit of all agreed decisions at the UN, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the Quartet Road Map, working towards an early solution that brings permanent peace to the region.
Finally, Sheikh Hasina emphasized the importance of Muslim unity on the issue of Palestine, urging collective support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and their demand for an independent homeland. She called for solidarity with the suffering of Palestinians, especially women and children, and reiterated Bangladesh’s support for the Two-State Solution based on the 1967 border, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Mohammad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud for hosting the summit and hoped that the meeting would serve as a powerful platform to urge Israel to halt its cruel onslaught against defenseless Palestinians. She drew attention to Gaza’s status as the most densely populated open-air prison globally and criticized the once-persecuted Jewish people for destroying the homes, hopes, and families of Palestinians who sheltered them during difficult times.
