The Shura Council State of Qatar

The Shura Council held Monday its regular weekly session in the Tamim bin Hamad Hall at the Council's premises, under the chairmanship of HE Speaker of the Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.

At the beginning of the session, the Shura Council extended its highest congratulations and blessings to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, praying to Almighty Allah to return this blessed occasion to His Highness, the Qatari people and all residents of Qatar with prosperity and continued blessings, and to make it a month of security, peace and stability for the Arab and Islamic nations.

On the other hand, the Council strongly condemned the decision of the occupation authorities to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, considering it a violation of the ceasefire agreement and international conventions, as well as an infringement on humanitarian principles.

The Council affirmed its complete rejection of any practices aimed at depriving civilians of their basic needs, stressing the importance of an international parliamentary effort to ensure the safe and sustainable flow of relief.

In this context, HE Speaker of the Shura Council emphasized the need for the safe and sustainable flow of relief aid, referencing Article (70) of the First Additional Protocol of 1977, which affirms the right of civilians to receive humanitarian assistance and obliges parties to the conflict not to obstruct the delivery of relief. He also highlighted relevant provisions of international humanitarian law, particularly Rules (55) and (56) of the Red Cross rules, which mandate that aid must be allowed to pass without obstruction during times of war.

Afterward, HE Shura Council Secretary-General Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud read the agenda, and the minutes of the previous session were approved.

During the session, the Council reviewed a draft law on water, referred to it by the esteemed government, and decided to refer it to the Health, Public Services and Environment Affairs Committee for further study and to submit a report thereon to the Council.

The Council also reviewed the report of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, which included the Committee's opinion on the statement of the esteemed government regarding the Shura Council's proposals on "developing the tourism economy and exploring possible solutions for its growth and advancement". The Council made the appropriate decision on the report.

The session also reviewed two reports on the Council's participation in two parliamentary events: the parliamentary symposium organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) entering into force, held via videoconferencing last December, and the second meeting of the first session of the fourth legislative term of the Arab Parliament, which was held in Cairo in the same month.