Oman Urges Stronger International Support for Palestine at UNCTAD Trade and Development Board
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman has reaffirmed its full support for the statement delivered by the State of Palestine on behalf of the Arab Group before the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), praising a new UNCTAD report that details the severe economic and humanitarian devastation in the Palestinian territories since October 2023.
In its address to the Board, delivered by H.E. Ambassador Idris bin Abdulrahman Al-Khanjari, Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, the Sultanate commended the UNCTAD Secretariat for its “valuable and comprehensive” assessment. Oman stressed that the Palestinian territories are facing an “unprecedented, profound, and comprehensive” crisis that has effectively reversed decades of development within months.
Ambassador Al-Khanjari highlighted the widespread destruction of productive sectors, the collapse of essential services, drastic declines in public revenues, widening financial gaps, and a sharp drop in household purchasing power. He noted that the banking sector is under acute pressure due to liquidity shortages and growing debt, while severe restrictions on movement have deepened the economic collapse.
Describing the situation in Gaza as “extremely tragic,” the Ambassador said that massive destruction has affected infrastructure, factories, healthcare and educational facilities, transportation networks, and energy systems, effectively eroding the foundations of the economy. He emphasized that reconstruction will require many years, substantial investment, and strong international political will.
Oman underscored UNCTAD’s crucial role in supporting Palestinian institutions through advanced economic analysis, capacity building, development of financial and trade planning tools, and coordination of global efforts. The Sultanate expressed its appreciation for the continued assistance provided by the UNCTAD Assistance to the Palestinian People Unit.
Calling for a significant increase in political, financial, and technical support from the international community — particularly the Trade and Development Board — Oman stressed that current aid levels fall far short of meeting the scale of the crisis.
Ambassador Al-Khanjari outlined three priority areas for immediate and long-term action:
- Integrating humanitarian aid with sustainable economic measures, including facilitating the entry of essential goods, easing mobility restrictions, and ensuring the flow of due revenues.
- Launching a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza, aimed at rebuilding infrastructure, human capital, and key productive sectors.
- Strengthening Palestinian institutions, which he said is essential to any sustainable development pathway, while emphasizing the importance of continuing and expanding UNCTAD’s programs.
He concluded by stating that the crisis in the Palestinian territories is “a direct result of the occupation and its accumulated consequences,” adding that the responsibility toward the Palestinian people is not only technical or financial, but also “moral, humanitarian, and developmental.”
Oman called for reinforcing UNCTAD’s mandate in the occupied Palestinian territories and urged collective international action to alleviate suffering and build a resilient economy that upholds the dignity and future of the Palestinian people.
