Dhaka's firm stance for the causes of Palestinians: SC urges UN to save children

Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh has recently taken a firm stance supporting the protection of the Palestinians and condemning the Israeli egregious attack on them without caring the elderly and the children.

Within a span of couple of days, Bangladesh once again showed it humanitarian and brotherly support for the Muslims in Palestine where thousands of people have been killed and several thousands were injured by the non-stop Israeli attacks.

Bangladesh neither has any diplomatic relations nor recognise Israel. But Dhaka has always stood beside the cause of the Palestinians in Gaza.

This week Bangladesh has supported South Africa’s application to file case against Israel before International Court of Justice (ICJ) and sent a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, urging him to take steps to protect the Palestinian children.

Earlier on 14 January, Foreign Ministry in a statement has supported the South Africa’s application instituting proceedings against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the violation by Israel of its obligations under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (Genocide Convention) in relation to Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip.

Though the whole Muslim world is condemning the attack, the US and some of its allies are backing the Israel to continue the attack on Hamas.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Supreme Court Special Committee on Child Rights under the direction and approval of the Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, Committee’s President and Appellate Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim signed the letter before sending it to the UN headquarters through the Foreign Ministry.

Expressing grave concern, the Committee in the letter, said that they are gravely concerned by the clear violation of Article 38 (1) and (4) of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and other international laws in the conflict zone of Gaza, Palestine.

The Committee requested the UN secretary general to rapidly take effective steps to apply the appropriate international measures, provide necessary humanitarian assistance for the children in Gaza, initiate effective diplomatic intervention for establishing peace and stop all kinds of violence against children.

The other members of the Supreme Court Special Committee on Child Rights are High Court Justice Naima Haider, Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif, Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Ahmed Choudhury.

Earlier, on Sunday the Foreign Ministry supported South Africa’s request for the indication provisional measures, which include requests for the suspension of all military operations in and against Gaza and allowing safe, adequate and unimpeded humanitarian aid into all areas of Gaza.

The provisional measures requested are both necessary and concrete steps required to end the humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded in Gaza.

In this context, Bangladesh welcomes the opportunity to file a declaration of intervention in the proceedings in due course.

The ongoing attacks by Israeli Defense Forces have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians, the majority of whom are women and children.

Bangladesh considers these deliberate acts of aggression a blatant disregard for and violation of international law, including the Genocide Convention, Foreign Ministry said.

As a State Party to the Genocide Convention, Bangladesh calls on all states to respect their obligations under the Genocide Convention to prevent and punish the crime of genocide.

Bangladesh reiterated its calls for an immediate ceasefire and for the rapid, safe and unhindered provision of life-saving assistance, at scale, to Gaza.

Dhaka also reiterated its previous calls for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine and for a lasting and permanent solution that sees the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State along pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

However, Muslim world may expect a rule by the ICJ as a possible emergency measures against Israeli attack, but genocidal proceedings would take a long time.

Though the court has no mechanism to enforce court’s decision, but it has international ramification.