Touhid Urges Ceasefire in Gaza, Justice for Palestinians

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain spoke at the international conference held at the United Nations Headquarters on Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, along with justice and accountability for the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people.

Addressing a high-level UN conference in New York on Tuesday, he reaffirmed Bangladesh’s unwavering support for a viable and independent Palestinian state, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Speaking at the “High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” Touhid described the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza as “one of the gravest genocides of our time.”

He urged the international community to act with “urgency and courage” to implement the two-state solution and uphold international law, humanitarian principles, and the UN Charter.

“We must stand on the right side of history,” he said, warning that peace in the Middle East would remain elusive without justice for the Palestinian people.

Highlighting the human cost of the conflict, he said over 58,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and critical civilian infrastructure including schools, hospitals, and aid centres has been destroyed.

Touhid stressed that the two-state solution is the only viable and internationally recognised path to peace, grounded in international law and the will of the Palestinian people.

He also criticised Israel’s continued expansion of illegal settlements and the systematic erosion of Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem, warning that such actions threaten the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.

Referring to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued on 19 July 2024, he called for an end to Israel’s unlawful occupation and full compliance with international law.

Touhid condemned the use of starvation as a weapon in Gaza, calling it unacceptable, and urged the strengthening of UNRWA and the unhindered delivery of essential supplies across the Gaza Strip.

Welcoming the Arab-Islamic initiative for Gaza’s reconstruction, he expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to contribute to rebuilding efforts under UN leadership.

“Bangladesh is prepared to deploy personnel to support humanitarian and reconstruction plans in Gaza,” he said.

He concluded by reaffirming Bangladesh’s constitutional commitment to support oppressed peoples in their struggle for self-determination.

“From our Liberation War in 1971 to the recent mass uprisings, Bangladesh has always upheld the right to self-determination. That legacy inspires our enduring solidarity with the Palestinian people.”

The three-day ministerial conference, jointly convened by France and Saudi Arabia, brought together representatives from 118 countries to push for a just resolution of the Palestinian question, accountability for war crimes, and coordinated efforts for Gaza’s reconstruction and peace in the region.