Bangladesh Renews Call for Full UN Membership for Palestine, Condemns Israel’s Use of Starvation as Weapon

Bangladesh has reiterated its call for the United Nations to grant full membership and recognition to the State of Palestine, urging immediate action to implement a two-state solution. The appeal was made by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain during a high-level international conference at the UN headquarters focused on achieving a peaceful resolution to the Palestine issue and advancing a two-state framework.

Speaking at the conference, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, Hossain emphasized the urgency of implementing the two-state solution, stating, “We must act with courage and speed, respecting international law, human rights law, and the UN Charter. Let our collective decision be a commitment to stand on the right side of history.” He condemned Israel’s use of hunger as a weapon, calling it “utterly unacceptable.”

Hossain reaffirmed Bangladesh’s unwavering support for a sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. “We believe there can be no peace in the Middle East without justice for Palestine, and the only path to that justice is a two-state solution grounded in international law and relevant UN resolutions,” he said. Bangladesh strongly endorses the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, he added, stressing the need to translate consensus into action. Highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Hossain noted that over 58,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israel’s ongoing war. “Schools, hospitals, and aid camps have been attacked. Countless bodies lie under Gaza’s rubble. We are witnessing one of the most horrific genocides of our time,” he said. Bangladesh unequivocally condemns the violence and demands accountability for those responsible. Hossain expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction under UN-led initiatives, including providing humanitarian aid and personnel for future rebuilding efforts. He welcomed the Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan and called for new resources and financing mechanisms to address the crisis. The adviser underscored two key challenges: ensuring a contiguous Palestinian territory for a just two-state solution and addressing Gaza’s dire humanitarian situation. He praised the conference organizers and the eight-member working group for their commitment to peace and justice for Palestine at a critical time.