Minister Shaheen Meets with Estonia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Global Affairs

 Minister of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Varsen Shaheen met with Estonia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Global Affairs, Ms. Mienna-Liina Lind, in Geneva,  to discuss the latest political developments in the occupied Palestinian territory. 

Minister Shaheen outlined the catastrophic consequences of the Israeli assaults emphasizing that the unfolding events amount to war crimes and genocide. She highlighted that the occupation has caused the death and injury of over 180,000 Palestinians in Gaza, while two million displaced persons face the imminent threat of starvation due to the siege and the systematic destruction of infrastructure. She also underscored the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced. 

Shaheen  stressed the urgent need to halt the targeting of UNRWA, warning that efforts to dismantle the agency are part of a broader attempt to liquidate the refugee issue. She also condemned the use of fuel and food as political bargaining tools, calling instead for the reconstruction of Gaza, the prevention of mass displacement, the reopening of border crossings, and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid.

For her part, Deputy Minister Lind affirmed that violations of international law are unacceptable under any circumstances. She warned that the region is on the brink of an explosion unless the international community unites to put an end to these transgressions. Lind emphasized that Estonia’s position is grounded in international law rather than political calculations and underscored the importance of protecting journalists and fostering a global alliance based on freedom and human rights.

During the discussion, Ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi stressed the need for concrete steps following the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on the illegality of the occupation. He also highlighted the importance of invoking Article 149 of the Geneva Conventions as a mechanism for international oversight. Additionally, he pointed to the double standards in addressing global crises, citing the Russian-Ukrainian war as a case in point.

Deputy Minister Lind reaffirmed Estonia’s continued support for UNRWA and expressed Estonia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. She noted the importance of resuming postponed political consultations between the two sides in the upcoming summer, either in Estonia or in Ramallah.