The Hon. Muneer Mulaffer - Deputy Minister of National Integration

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, thank you for time under the Head of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies. Right now, within 72 hours, Israel’s strikes on Palestine have killed 590 and wounded 1,042. This morning in the House a senior MP asked our stance on this assault. I say, throughout history the National People’s Power (NPP) has stood against inhumanity—at home and abroad. We have never supported such acts.

¶ 02 On 19 January 2025, a ceasefire began in that war zone; breaking it during the fasting season, these attacks resumed. Many of the dead are children. No one can approve this; all must denounce it. Palestine is a land where Muslims, Catholics, Christians and peace-loving Israelis live. Breaking the truce, they exhibited their barbarity to the world. As the UN Secretary-General noted, we are witnessing moral bankruptcy.

¶ 03 To those questioning our Government’s stance, I remind you: the NPP chairs the Palestine Solidarity Organization. We have never politicized this; we look at it from a humanitarian perspective, beyond any religious or sectarian lens. Conflicts in the Middle East also impact us, as many of our citizens live there. Our position—whether in or out of power—has consistently been that Palestine must have freedom and justice; that region should be peaceful. That is our prayer and, I believe, the world’s.

¶ 04 Some raise this in Parliament with sarcasm for local election gain. We will not be dragged into that. Election or not; in power or not; we will always raise our voice against inhumanity and work to defeat it. Thank you for the time.