Nine Arab States Condemn the Targeting of Civilians in Gaza

Black smoke raise from Eastern Gaza City, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 following Israeli airstrikes. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
Black smoke raise from Eastern Gaza City, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 following Israeli airstrikes. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
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Nine Arab States Condemn the Targeting of Civilians in Gaza

Black smoke raise from Eastern Gaza City, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 following Israeli airstrikes. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
Black smoke raise from Eastern Gaza City, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 following Israeli airstrikes. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)

Nine Arab countries called on Thursday for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an end to the targeting and death of civilians.

“The right to self-defense by the United Nations Charter does not justify blatant violations of humanitarian and international law,” said the statement, signed by the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Morocco.

They rejected “any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian issue at the expense of the Palestinian people and the peoples of the region, or to displace the Palestinian people from their land in any way, considering it a serious violation of international humanitarian law and tantamount to a war crime.”

They called on the UN Security Council to mandate the parties for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, and affirmed that the failure to describe flagrant violations of international humanitarian law effectively constitutes a green light for the continuation of these practices and complicity in committing them.



UK PM Tells Netanyahu Peace Process ‘Should Lead’ to Palestinian State

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
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UK PM Tells Netanyahu Peace Process ‘Should Lead’ to Palestinian State

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on the Southport attacks in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London, Britain, 21 January 2025. (EPA)

UK premier Keir Starmer told Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that any peace process in the Middle East should pave the way for a Palestinian state, Downing Street said.

The two leaders held a call that focused on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, a UK government spokesperson said.

During the conversation, "both agreed that we must work towards a permanent and peaceful solution that guarantees Israel's security and stability", the British readout of the call added.

"The prime minister added that the UK stands ready to do everything it can to support a political process, which should also lead to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state."

Starmer also "reiterated that it was vital to ensure humanitarian aid can now flow uninterrupted into Gaza, to support the Palestinians who desperately need it", the statement added.

Starmer "offered his personal thanks for the work done by the Israeli government to secure the release of the hostages, including British hostage Emily Damari", the statement added.

"To see the pictures of Emily finally back in her family's arms was a wonderful moment but a reminder of the human cost of the conflict," Starmer added, according to the statement.

A truce agreement between Israel and Hamas to end 15 months of war in Gaza came into effect on Sunday.

The first part of the three-phase deal should last six weeks and see 33 hostages returned from Gaza in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.