From world's ‘largest open prison' to ‘largest mass grave': Qatari defense chief on Gaza

Amid growing concerns over Israeli actions “constituting crime against humanity and genocide against Palestinian children,” Qatari Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah on Friday said the Gaza Strip which was the world's “largest open prison” has now turned into “the largest mass grave.”

“Gaza Strip has been blockaded for almost 20 years and is described as the world's largest open prison. It is now the world's largest mass grave,” Attiyah said during his speech at Bogazici University in Istanbul.

Attiyah also described the recognition of Palestine state by Spain, Ireland, Norway and Slovenia as a “significant step” towards regional peace and stability.

“Qatar welcomed the recognition of the state of Palestine by Ireland, Spain, Norway and lately, Slovenia. This is a significant step towards supporting the two-state solution and achieving regional peace and stability,” Attiyah said.

The recent mass destruction and killings of Palestinian civilians and children in the Gaza Strip have posed a complex security threat to the entire region, he said.

“The expansion of Israeli settlement in the Palestinian territory has escalated the conflict and undermined international efforts to ensure peace and security in the region,” he further said.

Underlining that Israel doesn't want a two-state solution, he said Qatar urges the “super and mighty powers” to impose UN Security Council's resolutions issued since 1945.

“Qatar has been at the forefront of peace efforts for regional stability through dialogue and mediation,” he added.

Attiyah, however, said that Doha's efforts are not helpful alone, urging the global community to take urgent action to help end the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and “reinvigorate the Arab peace initiative” aiming to establish a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.

“The UN Security Council should reaffirm its previous resolution and take the necessary step to recognize the state of Palestine as a full member of the organization and to acknowledge its rightful border and territorial integrity,” he added.

Stating that the International Court of Justice has played a vital role in dealing with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, elevating the Palestinian people's voices and advocating for justice, Attiyah said that ensuring stability in Gaza and Palestine is paramount for upholding peace in the region.

Stating that the Middle East and North Africa region have become a "theater for global powers," Attiyah said that the conflicts in the region, including in Yemen, pose serious risks to the security of the Gulf region and disrupt local trade routes.

Stressing that there are concerns about food organization, especially wheat supply due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Attiyah hailed Türkiye's efforts on the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Türkiye is playing a crucial role in implementing the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which ensured the delivery of grain to those countries where grain is a staple food, he added.