Arab-Islamic Summit Ministerial Committee Discusses Gaza War with FMs of Nordic, Benelux Countries

Members of the Ministerial Committee and European officials meet in Oslo on Friday. (SPA)
Members of the Ministerial Committee and European officials meet in Oslo on Friday. (SPA)
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Arab-Islamic Summit Ministerial Committee Discusses Gaza War with FMs of Nordic, Benelux Countries

Members of the Ministerial Committee and European officials meet in Oslo on Friday. (SPA)
Members of the Ministerial Committee and European officials meet in Oslo on Friday. (SPA)

Members of the Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit held talks in Oslo on Friday with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and the foreign ministers of Nordic countries and Benelux countries.

The committee is chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and included Qatari Prime Minister and FM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Jordan’s Deputy PM and FM Ayman al-Safadi, Palestinian FM Riad Malki, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan and Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrahim Taha.

The officials discussed the dangerous developments in the Gaza Strip, and the continuation of the Israeli occupation's military escalation towards unarmed civilian.

The committee renewed its unified position regarding the refusal of the Israeli forces' continued war against the Palestinian people in Gaza, calling for an immediate and complete ceasefire and ensuring the protection of civilians, as stipulated by international humanitarian law.

It called for addressing all the flagrant violations practiced by Israeli forces against the Palestinian people, which are deepening the humanitarian tragedy and hindering the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid.

It stressed the importance of holding Israel accountable for the ongoing violations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which violate international law and international humanitarian law.

The members of the committee stressed the importance of taking serious and urgent steps to ensure the securing of relief corridors for the delivery of urgent humanitarian, food and medical aid to the Gaza Strip, expressing their refusal of any restrictions.

They reiterated the need for creating serious political conditions that would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state along the June 1967 borders, in accordance with the relevant international resolutions. They expressed their rejection of the compartmentalization of the Palestinian issue and discussions about the future of the Gaza Strip separately from the overall Palestinian-Israeli conflict.



Australian Deputy PM Stresses Importance of Partnership with Saudi Arabia

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles attends the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 16 December 2024. EPA
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles attends the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 16 December 2024. EPA
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Australian Deputy PM Stresses Importance of Partnership with Saudi Arabia

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles attends the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 16 December 2024. EPA
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles attends the annual Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 16 December 2024. EPA

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles stressed the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Australia, noting that the Kingdom stands as Australia's second-largest trading partner in the Middle East.

In a statement issued by his office, Marles indicated that his visit to the Kingdom and the UAE seeks to enhance collaborative efforts within the G20 and other multilateral institutions and aims to emphasize the unwavering commitment to a rules-based international order.

The statement further emphasized that the Kingdom is a crucial partner for Australia and that the visit presents an opportunity to broaden economic ties and explore avenues for deeper cooperation with regional leaders.

Marles said that this visit underscores Australia's commitment to fortifying economic and diplomatic ties with the Kingdom, recognizing its crucial role as a partner in addressing shared global challenges.

Marles met with Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh on Wednesday.