His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, delivered a speech at the emergent summit held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) about Palestine in Turkey on 18 May 2018. The most important of what is stated therein:

Firstly, I should like to thank His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his invitation to this emergency conference and for the Republic of Turkey for the positions that support the question of Palestine.

On the 70th anniversary of the catastrophe (Nakba), Israeli forces committed a horrific massacre against peaceful Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza.

Two decades before the Nakba, the Gaza Strip was under Israeli occupation in 1967, as in the case of the West Bank and Jerusalem. After struggle and two popular uprisings, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip but imposed a siege that continues to this day.

 More recently, the people of the Gaza Strip organized peaceful marches to commemorate the right of return for Palestinian refugees, which was approved by the United Nations in Resolution 194 of 11 December 1948. Israel's commitment to implement that resolution and implement the Partition Plan of 1947 was a prerequisite for its acceptance as a member of the United Nations.

On May 15, the day of Nakba of Palestine, the massacre took place and the whole world and the world watched it live on TV screens.

 Although the right of return is itself a theme for demonstrations, it is difficult to understand this Palestinian outcry, without the backdrop of the suffocating and inhuman siege imposed on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

As a result of the blockade, the Gaza Strip has been transformed into a large concentration camp for millions of people deprived of their most basic rights to travel, education, work and medical treatment.

When their sons carry arms they are called terrorists, when they go out with peaceful demonstrations they are called extremists, and are shot alive.

We appreciate the countries that have unequivocally condemned the massacre, but the Palestinian people and our people in general believe that this is not enough.

The facts are well known, and Israel itself does not deny shooting at demonstrators. There must therefore be international will to take real and effective steps.

Is it conceivable that a celebration ceremony be held in the occasion of the transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem, while blood is shed in Gaza?

The siege imposed on the Gaza Strip must be stopped by political decision and a just solution to the Palestinian question, as the last colonial issue that continues to occupy the world, must be imposed. There is an international consensus that transcend political and ideological differences on the need to put an end to the injustice inflicted upon  the Palestinian people. The way to this is through a historic settlement establishing  a Palestinian State in the territories occupied in 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital. There is an international consensus that Israeli expansionist policies of building settlements and judaizing Jerusalem is illegal.

But the international community is taking no steps in the face of this Israeli intransigence, despite its threat to regional and international security.

 This issue must remain a matter of consensus in our Organization, and we should not, in any case, subject it to differences between our States. The issue of Palestine has become a symbol of the oppressed and the recent massacre committed against the demonstrators deepens this feeling and reflects the impossibility of international legitimacy. On the other hand, it proves that the people of Palestine have been struggling and offering sacrifice for seventy years.

 Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.