Working on ceasefire, says Palestine's envoy; Hopes India won't make reference to 'Temple Mount', condoles death of Indian national

Palestine's envoy to India Adnan Mohammad JaberAbualhayjaahas said that his government has been'working for the ceasefire from the first day'when it comes to the ongoing situation with Israel.

According to him,over 200 people have lost lives in West Bank and Gaza due to actionsofIsrael.

Speaking to WIONDiplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal exclusively, Amb AdnanAbualhayjaahoped that India won't make reference to Temple Mount, as it is'encouraging Israelis in the manner which may lead to religious war'.

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Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism, is known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina.

He also condoled the death of Indiannational Soumya Santhosh.

Santhosh,a caregiver,died in Israel's Ashkelon in a rocket strikeandis survived bynine-year-old son and husband.

This is his first-ever interview amid the ongoing escalating violence between Israel and Palestine. The fighting beganafter violenceeruptedin Jerusalem and possible eviction of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwanneighbourhood.

WION: What is the current situation when it comes to the ongoing conflict?Willyoucall it a full-scale war?

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: The current situation in Palestine is mainly fortworeasons. First is the occupation, as long as the occupation continues. Who is ignoring the Oslo Agreement, who is ignoring all the agreements with Palestinian authorities, who is killing, jailing every day in the West Bank, restricting the movement of Palestinian people via the 600 military checkpoints, is controlling 60% of the west bank, restricting the people's movement, controlling tax money of Palestinians, refusing elections inJerusalem?

Secondly, there was thefourth election in Israel andNetanyahuhas failed to form a government. Netanyahuknowshow to make problems, so he startedtellingthe right-wing of the Israelis to go to Al Aqsa to restrict the worshippers frompraying.

Before it becameamilitaryissue, it was the issue of Al Aqsa and Sheikh Jarrah area where they want to displace 28 families living in their houses for 70 years. He wants to put obstacles in forming the government, so he has started with these problems because if other parties are able to form the government, Netanyahu, because of corruption, might go to jail.

Surely,it's a war, and a very bad warbecause the victimsof this warareciviliansmainly. We are on the eighgth day of the war and we have lost 218 people in the West Bank and Gaza, more than 5,600 people have been injured. In the West Bank,there areno weaponswith Palestinian people, no rockets, nothing.250 of the woundedgot injureddue tothe metal bombs. Israelis arecommitting war crimes on both sides, in Gaza and in the West Bank.Hope it will end soon.

WION: How do you think the international community can support Palestine?

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: Israel is an exact copy of South Africa during the apartheid time. We live in an apartheid regime in Palestine.

There aretwokinds oflaws in Israel. There is a law for the Jewish peopleandthere is a law for a Palestinians,who haveIsraeli nationality and there is another law, the military law for Palestinian people living in the occupied area, West Bank, including Jerusalem and GazaStrip.

The international community could help a lot, first of all, they should boycott Israel, exactly as South Africa hadbeen boycotted. Secondly, Americans should stoppressurisingother countries tonottake action against Israel. Many of the European countrieswanttotake actionbut don’t act due toAmerican pressure. Hopethere will be real pressure from the international community to follow the United Nationsresolution. Israel is the only countryin the world which is over the international community.Not justUN resolutions, they refuse everything. Hundreds of resolutions, from the security council to the general assembly of the UN. It is the only country that can refuse everything.

WION: Will Palestinian authorities call for a ceasefire?

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: Wewerein the beginningandhad talks with some Arab countries like Egypt. Because Egypt normally coordinates in these matters. WithQatar...we spoke with France, Britain. Our foreign minister was in Europe, he was working hard with the European Union for the ceasefire. From the first day, we started to work on the ceasefire. We called on the security council, to have a resolution for the ceasefire. Butthreetimes, Americans refused, including on Sunday.

WION: Then there is the issue of Hamas's rocket attacks, something that has been condemned globally...

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: First of all,let me present my condolences for that lady who passed away in Israel. We feel sorry that we have lost one Indian in this conflict. So,my condolences to the Indian people and her family.

Secondly, the rockets of Hamas are a reaction, not an action. The main thing is the occupation. I amokwith destroying all weaponsandIsrael and Palestine not using weapons. When we signed the Oslo agreement, we signed it to live side by side in peace, security, coordinate in everything together asneighbours. Since that time, 1993, up to now, Israel is refusing everything, destroying everything. I think we will go to the question oftwostate solutions and they are destroyingtwostate solutions. Rockets is a reaction, and hope,we won't see any aggression on the Palestinian people in Gaza and West Bank.

WION: Can President Mahmoud Abbas prevail over Hamas, and is Hamas trying to exploit political space?

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: President Mahmoud Abbasisin connection with the leaders of Hamasandwas working for the ceasefire from the first day. Any warinflicts damages onboth sides.You need to control the Israelis and their crimes, otherwise, we will see another war. Withouttheendofthis occupation,difficultforneighboursto live side by side, according to the international resolutions.Agreements have been signed with the Israelis,butthere is no security in the area at all.

WION: Is Hamas trying to use the political vacuum in Gaza, West Bank vis a vis the election schedule?

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: We are a democratic state,and havedemocratic institutions. If Hamas via elections, takesadvantage and winsthe election,we have no problem. Let Hamas control the country. They are the main party of the Palestinianpeople,they have a political department as theorganisation. If they win the elections, we will welcome that and we will give them the authority. we have noproblem,this is a democracy.

WION: How do you see India's statement at the UNSC? New Delhi reiterated its'strong support to the just Palestinian cause and its unwavering commitment to thetwo-statesolution".

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: India isavery close friendofPalestine and I would like to thank Indiangovernment forstrongly supportingthe cause of the Palestinian people.

Only one thing, there is something which I have seen in the statement, which is Al Masjid Al Aqsa/Temple Mount,which is a new expression. Al-Masjid Al Aqsa since the British was nominated to rulebyPalestine.In1929,a mission had come from the United Nations after some conflict between the Palestinian Muslims and Jews at that time. They checked everything in Al Aqsa and said Al Aqsa is a Muslim place and Jewish people pray near the wall. It was like that without any problem. Secondly, AlAqsa mosqueis registered in UNESCO as a Muslim place.

So,hope thisis notused againasencouraging Israelis in that matter will lead to religious war,which is not acceptable to anyone. India is supporting Palestineandwe thank them very much, not onlyon the politicallevel,but they also helped in many other things,such asbuilding hospitals, schools, diplomatic institutions, women empowerment centers,sothey help Palestine in many ways.

WION:What iscurrent situation of the Covid crisis when it comes to the Palestinian territories.

Adnan Mohammad Jaber: Now,a little bit better. Last month, before it was very bad, still a little bit better but we don't have enough vaccines to say the truth. It's not bad, these days at least. It is much better thantwomonths ago.