DHAKA, Oct 18, 2023 (BSS) – Bangladesh today blasted the brutal attack on the Ahli Arabi Hospital in Gaza City resulting in indiscriminate killing of hundreds of innocent civilians mainly women and children accusing the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) of the “criminal act” and “grave crime against humanity”.

   The foreign ministry statement described IDF as “occupying forces” demanding appropriate international steps to hold them accountable for the barbaric atrocity. 

   “The perpetrators of this criminal act must be held accountable for their actions, and the barbaric war must be put to a stop to prevent further deaths and suffering of innocent civilians as war victims,” it said.

   The foreign ministry said this ruthless attack is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian laws and accords “which constitutes a grave crime against humanity”.

   The statement came while foreign minister DR AK Abdul Momen joined an urgently called “extra-ordinary” meeting of the OIC Executive Committee on ongoing Israeli military aggression against the Palestinians. 
 
   It said Bangladesh believed the current war waged by Israel in Gaza targeting the civilians was not only asymmetric and disproportionate, but it was tantamount to collective punishment of Palestinian people in Gaza and in contravention of all fundamental principles of human rights and international civil accords and conventions.
 
   Bangladesh further called upon the international community including the United Nations to condemn this heinous act and to urgently allow humanitarian access to the affected territory.
 
  Bangladesh simultaneously urged all parties concerned to come to the negotiation table to work towards achieving a lasting solution to question of Palestine.

   The foreign ministry said Bangladesh maintains that time has come for the international community to address the root causes of the on-going conflict.
 
   “It is clear that denial of dignified life and living under Israeli Occupation and forced settlements on Palestinian territory will not lead to peace in the region,” said the statement.
 
   Therefore, it said, Bangladesh underlined the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights to self-determination and supports a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its Capital as envisioned in the UNSC Resolutions No. 242 and 338.