عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Gulf

GCC Ministerial Council Demands Int’l Protection for Palestinian People

The GCC foreign ministers meet in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
The GCC foreign ministers meet in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
TT
TT

GCC Ministerial Council Demands Int’l Protection for Palestinian People

The GCC foreign ministers meet in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)
The GCC foreign ministers meet in Riyadh on Sunday. (SPA)

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) demanded on Sunday an immediate ceasefire and end to Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at the 159th GCC Ministerial Council in Riyadh on Sunday, the FMs also called for ensuring the delivery of aid to the Palestinian people, calling for providing international protection for them.

The closing statement of the meeting urged the international community to take a decisive stance to implement a ceasefire and protect civilians.

The necessary measures must be taken in line with international law to counter the Israeli government’s practices and collective punishment against the people of Gaza.

The ministers hailed efforts exerted by several countries and organizations to stop the Israeli assault, while expressing their disappointment with the veto of the ceasefire draft proposal that was submitted at the United Nations Security Council. The draft was submitted by Algeria on behalf of Arab countries.

The FMs rejected any Israeli justifications to continue the attack on Gaza, condemning the ongoing targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, such as camps and hospitals.

Moreover, they underscored their support for the Palestinian people in remaining on their land, rejecting Israeli measures aimed at the forced displacement of the residents of Gaza.

The statement praised the outcomes of the consultative meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia in February to discuss the war on Gaza.

It also expressed support for Qatar and Egypt’s efforts to reach a humanitarian ceasefire in the enclave.

It hoped these efforts would succeed so that the siege could be lifted off Gaza. Furthermore, it urged the international community to assume its responsibility towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict without double standards.

The FMs praised South Africa for filing a genocide complaint against Israel before the International Court of Justice, welcoming the preliminary ruling that held Israeli legally responsible before the international community for its violations against innocent civilians.

They condemned the statements made by extremist Israeli ministers about the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza and their support for the re-occupation of the enclave.

They reiterated that the Palestinian cause and ending the Israeli occupation remain at the heart of Arab affairs. They renewed the GCC’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Most Viewed

 
 
Gulf

Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Urges Global Support for Two-State Solution Alliance

A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)
A group photo from the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Doha, Qatar (SPA)

The ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon, along with rising regional tensions, took center stage at the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) summit in Doha, which began on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia urged countries to back the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a key step toward resolving the Middle East crisis.
Speaking on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the ACD summit and highlighted how continued violence in the region is disrupting international trade and fueling political tensions, which threaten investments and economic cooperation.
“The continuation of aggression and violations in the region hinder the movement of international trade and increase political tensions that threaten the flow of investments and economic cooperation between the countries of the region and the world,” he said.
He called for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts to ensure the region’s prosperity.
“We thank Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries for their support for the two-state solution and their recognition of the State of Palestine, and we urge the rest of the world to follow suit,” Prince Faisal said, reminding that the situation has prompted the Kingdom to work with “brothers and allies in establishing a Global Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution.”
He stressed that the current unrest in Palestine and Lebanon is a major barrier to economic and commercial development in the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s continued support for resistance groups.
“The Zionist enemy will be punished, and we will keep supporting the resistance until Palestine is liberated,” said Pezeshkian.
Also speaking at the ACD summit, he emphasized: “Those who violate human rights must know that resistance is strong and cannot be eliminated.”
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s backing for Palestinian resistance.
After meeting with a Hamas delegation in Doha, Pezeshkian warned that Israel’s ongoing actions had led Iran’s military to deliver a decisive response.
“Israel couldn’t commit these crimes without backing from the US and Europe. If Israel makes any mistake against Iran, it will face a much stronger retaliation than Tuesday’s attack,” he said.
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and warned of the consequences of not holding Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity.
Speaking at the summit, Sheikh Tamim said: “Qatar has long warned about the dangers of not addressing Israel’s crimes.”
He pointed to the escalating violence in Gaza, noting that true security can only be achieved through a just peace, which includes creating an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
He stressed that Qatar will continue to support the Palestinian people in their fight for their legitimate rights.
“Israel’s relentless attacks on civilians in Gaza and other occupied areas have killed over 41,000 innocent people. What’s happening is genocide, and Gaza is being made uninhabitable to force its residents out,” said Sheikh Tamim.
He also condemned Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, accusing Israel of using international inaction to expand settlements in the West Bank and prepare for annexation.
“We believe in de-escalating tensions and respecting nations’ sovereignty,” he added, stressing that Israel is taking advantage of global silence to push its agenda in the West Bank and Lebanon.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also called for urgent international intervention to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.
He warned that Israel’s attacks have destroyed over 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure.
“Peace cannot coexist with occupation, genocide, and the denial of the Palestinian people’s rights,” Abbas reaffirmed at the ACD summit.