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The Palestinian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Abdal Fatah Alsattari, has called for international protection for the Palestinian people in the wake of the growing injustice and atrocities being meted out to them by Israelis.

He made the call at a ceremony to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people in Accra.

The United Nations has set aside the 29th of November each year to express solidarity and support for the people of Palestine in their quest for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The Ambassador appealed to the Israeli people to refrain from violence against Palestinians. “The killing of our children, women and students will not bring peace, the destruction of houses over the heads of our people, the construction of settlements and the stealing of our lands will not bring peace to the Middle East and is against International Law and human rights”, he emphasised.

He also appealed to the United Nations and the entire international community to resume the peace process for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Leslie Kojo Christian in his address also reiterated the need for the international community to renew their efforts and sustain their advocacy towards the realization of the Palestinian cause.

He noted that the establishment of an autonomous Palestinian state was the solution to end the protracted conflict that had spanned decades, and called on both sides to adopt diplomatic means to address the situation rather than resort to violence.

Mr Kojo assured the Palestinian people of continuous support from the government of Ghana. “Ghana believes that the Palestine question is at the core of the Middle-East conflict and we have in practical demonstration of this belief extended consistent support for various United Nations General Assembly resolutions on the issue”, he said.

Dr. Yaw Graham of the Third World Network in his contribution recounted some of the challenges Palestinians were confronted with daily in an attempt to have a meaningful life, including the blatant violation of their basic rights, and difficulty in getting building permits.

He also advised that Palestinians should desist from engaging in any physical violence against the Israelis as a form of revenge, saying that “The solution of one injustice cannot be found in another injustice.’’

The chairman for the occasion, Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr., a senior journalist, on his part commended the UN and other international bodies for the efforts made to address the Palestine-Israeli conflict, and advised Palestinians not to turn it into a religious struggle but a struggle to retrieve their resources and utilize them effectively to improve the living conditions of their people.

He was unhappy about the swift manner in which African leaders alleged to have committed crimes against humanity and various forms of corruption were punished, while leaders in the Western countries who were guilty of the same offenses escaped punishment.

As part of the activities to mark the day, children from the Osu Orphanage were hosted by the Palestinian Ambassador at his residence. The Ambassador said he chose the orphanage as an opportunity to reach the less privileged in society.

The occasion brought together some senior government officials, members of the Palestinian community in Ghana, some civil society organizations, representatives from the Muslim community and students groups.