Bangladesh has said immediate priority must be given to ensuring international protection for the Palestinian people suffering for decades from the occupying power's policy of collective punishment. "The continued breaches of international humanitarian law and systematic human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories have given a rise to an egregious culture of impunity," said Deputy Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Tareq Md Ariful Islam. He made the remarks while delivering Bangladesh statement on the situation in the Middle East and question of Palestine on Friday at the UN General Assembly.

In the absence of effective international accountability, Ariful Islam said the occupying power continues to persecute Palestinian civilians; imprisoning and abusing scores of Palestinians in its detention centres; and dispossessing and evicting thousands of Palestinian families through its unlawful construction and expansion of settlements. "Bangladesh continues to insist on lifting of the illegal Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has created a dire humanitarian situation," he said. Quoting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's message on this year's International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Ariful Islam said, "We must not let the hope of peace fade away. We must, and I believe we will, resume the peace process without any further delay."