International Quds Day and duties of nations

mam Khomeini (RH) on August 7, 1979, issued a message in support of the Palestinian cause, and named the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as International Quds Day. It is true that Quds Day is specifically dedicated to Palestine and the complete freedom of the first qibla of Muslims, but in fact, this day is the day of awakening and the unity of the Muslim world.

 Since the issue of that call, at least three main factors have made Palestine one of the most important issues in the Islamic world: first, the nature of the land of Palestine, its sanctity and its place among the followers of Islam; Second, the nature of the Israeli regime and its expansionist policies; Third, the nature of the Western-Israeli alliance, which seeks to divide and weaken the Islamic world so that Islamic countries remain dependent on the great powers.

Over the past seven decades, Palestinians have endured countless crimes of massacre, ethnic cleansing, demographic change, systematic torture, arbitrary murder, detention, and all forms of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. Especially, the crime and mass genocide of children and women of the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip in the last few months demands that the world of humanity and the Islamic world unite against this regime.

In recent years, the apartheid and occupying regime has intensified its insane actions against the Palestinians. These include collective punishment of Palestinians under any pretext, the siege of Gaza, the expulsion and forced relocation of Palestinians from their homeland, implementation of the project of Judaization of Jerusalem with the continuation of settlements, destruction of Palestinian homes, restriction of the movement of Palestinian citizens living in Jerusalem and revocation of their identity cards and permanent residence permits in violation of international laws and agreements, particularly, Article 43 of the Hague Convention and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Western double standard and unquestioned economic, military and political support to Israel is the sole impediment to the resolution of the longest lasting suffering by any people in modern times. It is precisely for these supports that all plans, considered lip service to the resolution of the conflict, have failed. In an alternative to the failed plans, the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented a democratic and just plan for resolving the Palestinian crisis, entitled "Holding a National Referendum in Palestine". This plan stipulates the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland and holding a referendum with the participation of Muslims, Jews and Christians of Palestinian origin to choose the type of legal system of government. The plan, registered with the UN Secretariat, has been formulated and presented based on the principles of democracy and international law accepted by all governments and nations.

The support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the oppressed people of Palestine is not a short-term and tactical policy. It is rooted in our religious beliefs, but most importantly, it is a humane act and humanitarian duty of man of every religion and race.

The awakening of the Muslim world and the resistance by the Palestinians must have convinced the Israelis and their supporters that ignoring the problem of Palestine will not make it go away. The Israeli regime must be held accountable for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territories. A solution to the Palestinian crisis is possible only if the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people under occupation are fully recognized, restored and established.