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Six-Party Arab Group Warns of Israeli Aggression on Gaza, Calls for Two-State Solution

The foreign ministers of the six-party Arab group held a consultative meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)
The foreign ministers of the six-party Arab group held a consultative meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)
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Six-Party Arab Group Warns of Israeli Aggression on Gaza, Calls for Two-State Solution

The foreign ministers of the six-party Arab group held a consultative meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)
The foreign ministers of the six-party Arab group held a consultative meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)

Foreign ministers from the six-party Arab Committee emphasized on Saturday during a high-level dialogue in Riyadh the necessity of ending the war on the Gaza Strip and reaching an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, chaired the ministerial consultative meeting of the six-party Arab Committee to discuss the developments of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, Ayman Al-Safadi; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry; the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hussein Al-Sheikh; the Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, Anwar Gargash; and the Minister of State at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi.
The ministers emphasized the necessity of ending the war on the Gaza Strip and reaching an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire ensuring the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Recognition of a Palestinian State
They also emphasized the importance of irreversible steps towards implementing the two-state solution and recognizing the State of Palestine within the borders of June 4, 1967, with its capital in East Al-Quds (Jerusalem), in accordance with relevant international resolutions.
They stressed that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory and firmly rejected any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land or any military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah.
Additionally, the ministers warned against the ongoing illegal Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, which undermine the two-state solution.
A Number of Meetings in Riyadh
An unnamed source told Asharq Al-Awsat Thursday that several meetings are expected to be held, under Saudi sponsorship, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum that will be held in Riyadh between April 28 and 29.
These will include a meeting of the Arab foreign ministers with the participation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and another meeting of the Arab ministers with European Union countries.
The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council will also hold a meeting with their American counterpart next Monday.
Recognition of the Palestinian state is one of the main topics on the agenda of the meetings, added the source.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan revealed on Monday that talks have begun to circulate within the corridors of the European Union toward recognizing the Palestinian state.
Blinken’s Seventh Visit
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, is visiting the region for the seventh time since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
He is expected to meet with Arab and regional officials, in addition to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, according to the source.

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Gulf

Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned Suicide Attack on Tel Aviv Airport, Says UAE Prosecutor

Planes sit on the tarmac at Ben Gurion International Airport after a Flydubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. (Reuters)
Planes sit on the tarmac at Ben Gurion International Airport after a Flydubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. (Reuters)
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Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned Suicide Attack on Tel Aviv Airport, Says UAE Prosecutor

Planes sit on the tarmac at Ben Gurion International Airport after a Flydubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. (Reuters)
Planes sit on the tarmac at Ben Gurion International Airport after a Flydubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. (Reuters)

The co-pilot who attacked the captain of a flydubai jet last week had planned to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's international airport, the United Arab Emirates' top prosecutor said on Friday.

In the aftermath of the incident, people on board -- the majority of whom were Israeli -- described a sudden plunge in altitude and a fight for control of the aircraft, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The passengers were repatriated on a second flydubai flight hours later.

The unnamed Omani co-pilot, now in custody in the UAE, had drawn inspiration from Al-Qaeda's September 11, 2001, suicide attacks on the United States, and carried out his attempt "with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life", according to the Emirati prosecutor's findings published by state media.

The prosecutor found that the co-pilot had first begun to be radicalized while studying in Australia "through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks".

He said last week's flight had been the co-pilot's third to Tel Aviv, and that he had used the two earlier trips to plan the attack.

During the flight, the suspect used an emergency axe to attack the plane's Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, who fought back and tried to call for help.

Another pilot assigned to the return flight, who was also on board, "noticed the cockpit door opening and closing repeatedly in an unusual manner", according to the findings.

After gaining entry, he "intervened with the assistance of a cabin crew member and several passengers, and together they rescued the injured captain and restrained the suspect".

The return flight captain and his co-pilot then landed the plane at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

- No sign of intentions -

Israel and the UAE normalized ties under the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, and Israel carries out stringent security checks on those travelling to the country.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously said that the co-pilot -- identified in reports as Hamam al-Hammami -- must have gotten around restrictions preventing individuals from nations that do not recognize Israel operating flights to the country.

The UAE prosecutor's "findings showed that he had met the professional and security requirements for employment, including holding a pilot's license, providing a certificate of good conduct and completing the required checks".

"However, none of the procedures revealed any indications of his extremist views or his intention to carry out a terrorist plot."

After the incident, Netanyahu had hailed the passengers and the plane's captain for their bravery in averting what would have otherwise been a catastrophe.

He later ordered a "thorough review of all security aspects of foreign civil aviation to Israel" in response to the incident.

Gulf

Coalition: 3 Houthi Missile Launchers Destroyed

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Coalition: 3 Houthi Missile Launchers Destroyed

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki stated on Friday that three missile launchers used by Yemen’s Houthi militia to threaten regional security have been destroyed.

He added that Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian objects will be met with a firm response.

Gulf

Civil Aviation Authority: 3 Saudis Killed in Thursday's Attacks on Riyadh Airport

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Civil Aviation Authority: 3 Saudis Killed in Thursday's Attacks on Riyadh Airport

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said Friday that three of the Kingdom's nationals were killed in attacks the day before on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.

"The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of three Saudi citizens," the General Authority of Civil Aviation said, adding the attacks targeted the airport's facilities and a plane belonging to national flag carrier Saudia.

The first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck the aircraft, the statement said.

It noted “injuries to a number of citizens and residents of different nationalities. Their injuries ranged from minor to serious.”

It also indicated that operational activities had returned to normal.