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Madrid Meeting Statement Calls for Israel’s Full Withdrawal from Gaza

Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares (C) addresses a press conference with (From L) European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borell, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Jordanian Foreign Minster Ayman Safadi following a meeting on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Madrid on September 13, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares (C) addresses a press conference with (From L) European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borell, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Jordanian Foreign Minster Ayman Safadi following a meeting on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Madrid on September 13, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
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Madrid Meeting Statement Calls for Israel’s Full Withdrawal from Gaza

Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares (C) addresses a press conference with (From L) European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borell, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Jordanian Foreign Minster Ayman Safadi following a meeting on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Madrid on September 13, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares (C) addresses a press conference with (From L) European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borell, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Jordanian Foreign Minster Ayman Safadi following a meeting on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Madrid on September 13, 2024. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)

Several Muslim and European countries meeting in Madrid have called for the implementation of the two-state solution in the Palestinian-Israeli crisis and for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, including from the Philadelphi corridor.

Other than the host Spain, in attendance were foreign ministers from Norway and Slovenia, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and members of the Arab-Islamic Contact Group for Gaza that includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Nigeria and Türkiye.

A statement issued following Friday’s meeting said: “We fully support the ongoing mediation efforts undertaken by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, and we reject all actions aiming at hindering this mediation process” to end the war in Gaza.

“We are calling repeatedly for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees. We also call for the reestablishment of the full control of the Palestinian Authority over the Rafah crossing and the rest of the borders and the full withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from Gaza, including from the Philadelphi corridor,” said the statement.

It said that “the international community must take active steps to implement the two-state solution, including universal recognition of the State of Palestine, and its admission as a full member of the United Nations.”

The conferees also called for the urgent need to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.

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Arab World

Israeli Strikes Kill 17 Palestinians in Gaza, Orders Hospital to Evacuate

Bodies of victims of an Israeli airstrike at the Nuseirat refugee camp are prepared for the funeral prayer outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Bodies of victims of an Israeli airstrike at the Nuseirat refugee camp are prepared for the funeral prayer outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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Israeli Strikes Kill 17 Palestinians in Gaza, Orders Hospital to Evacuate

Bodies of victims of an Israeli airstrike at the Nuseirat refugee camp are prepared for the funeral prayer outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Bodies of victims of an Israeli airstrike at the Nuseirat refugee camp are prepared for the funeral prayer outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 17 Palestinians, eight of them at a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City, medics said, as the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of a hospital in the north.
Palestinian medics said eight people, including children, were killed in the Musa Bin Nusayr School that sheltered displaced families in Gaza City.
The Israeli military said in a statement the strike targeted Hamas groups operating from a command center embedded inside the school. It said Hamas used the place to plan and execute attacks against Israeli forces.
Also in Gaza City, medics said four Palestinians were killed when an airstrike hit a car.
At least five other Palestinians were killed in two separate airstrikes in Rafah and Khan Younis south of the enclave.
In the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, where the army has operated since October, Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said the army ordered staff to evacuate the hospital and move patients and injured people toward another hospital in the area.
Abu Safiya said the mission was "next to impossible" because staff did not have ambulances to move the patients.
The Israeli army has operated in the two towns of north Gaza, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, as well as the nearby Jabalia camp for nearly three months.
Palestinians have accused Israel of carrying out acts of "ethnic cleansing" to depopulate those areas to create a buffer zone.
Israel denies this and says the campaign in the area aimed to fight Hamas and prevent them from regrouping. It said its forces have killed hundreds of fighters and dismantled military infrastructure since that operation began.
Armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad said they killed many Israeli soldiers in ambushes during the same period.
Mediators have yet to secure a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas group.
Sources close to the discussions told Reuters on Thursday that Qatar and Egypt had been able to resolve some differences between the warring parties but sticking points remained.
Israel began its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel says about 100 hostages are still being held, but it is unclear how many are alive.
Authorities in Gaza say Israel's campaign has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians and displaced most of the population of 2.3 million. Much of the coastal enclave is in ruins.