For more than seven decades, Palestine has been one of the central issues on the agenda of the international community. Countless resolutions have been adopted in the United Nations and other international forums, yet the suffering of the Palestinian people continues, and a lasting solution remains elusive. We spoke with His Excellency, Ambassador of Palestine to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Rezeq Namoora, who explained why progress has stalled, what role the great powers play, and how countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina can contribute to peace and humanitarian relief.
The interlocutor emphasized from the very beginning that the roots of the crisis go back to 1948 and the Nakba. Since then, Palestine has been the subject of hundreds of international resolutions – none of which have been implemented. According to him, there are several key reasons for this failure. First, the Israeli occupying entity has consistently refused to recognize the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people. Second, the international community has not shown the seriousness required to compel Israel to respect international law. And third, and perhaps most decisive, successive U.S. administrations have not only avoided pressuring Israel but have instead provided it with unconditional political, military, and economic support. With the American veto regularly paralyzing the UN Security Council, the very institution tasked with upholding peace has been rendered powerless.
Speaking about the role of the United Nations, he pointed out that its effectiveness depends on the consensus of the great powers, particularly within the Security Council. However, the United States has long undermined this consensus by blocking binding resolutions against Israel. In doing so, Washington has also weakened the influence of international organizations such as UNRWA, which plays a vital role in the lives of Palestinian refugees.
Turning to the role of the Arab League and the wider Muslim world, our interlocutor admitted that, at least in theory, Palestine remains the central cause of Arab and Islamic states. Yet, he stressed, geopolitical realities tell a different story. Arab weakness, changing global power balances, and relentless pressure from the United States and other Western powers have prevented the region from providing the support that Palestine so urgently needs.
The lack of a decisive international response, he warned, sends a dangerous signal. “When the world remains silent in the face of occupation and aggression, it only encourages the occupying power to continue. The result has been ongoing terrorism against the Palestinian people: killings, destruction, arrests, settlement expansion, and now, genocidal wars that have lasted for two years,” he said.
Asked about everyday life in Gaza, he described a grim reality. “Life has become unbearable. Homes, hospitals, universities, and infrastructure have been destroyed. Civilians are starved, deprived of the most basic elements of life, and subjected to modern weapons of war. The goal is clear: to force Palestinians to leave their homeland, to reoccupy Gaza, and to displace its people.” He reminded that the suffering of Gaza did not begin two years ago, but has been constant since 2007, under blockade, bombings, and destruction.
Finally, he spoke warmly about Bosnia and Herzegovina. The people of BiH, he said, have provided consistent moral support, and during the latest war sent significant humanitarian aid. Yet he stressed that Palestine needs more: political backing, medical assistance, treatment opportunities, and scholarships for students. Bosnia’s own post-war experience in rebuilding institutions and society could be invaluable. He expressed the hope that BiH will play a direct and effective role at the Peace Conference scheduled for September in New York, which aims to implement a two-state solution based on international law.
