Bahrain FM: Suspension of Qatar’s Membership is Correct Step to Preserve GCC

Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa in Manama, on November 9, 2014. (photo credit: AP/Hasan Jamali)
Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa in Manama, on November 9, 2014. (photo credit: AP/Hasan Jamali)
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Bahrain FM: Suspension of Qatar’s Membership is Correct Step to Preserve GCC

Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa in Manama, on November 9, 2014. (photo credit: AP/Hasan Jamali)
Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa in Manama, on November 9, 2014. (photo credit: AP/Hasan Jamali)

Bahrain's foreign minister on Monday suggested suspending Qatar's Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) membership until it accepts the demands of the Arab quartet.

"The correct step to preserve the GCC would be to freeze Qatar's membership until it sees reason and accepts the demands of our countries. If not, we will be fine with it leaving the GCC," Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said on his Twitter account.

The minister also said in another tweet that "if Qatar thinks that its current playing with time and evading will buy it time till the upcoming GCC summit, then it's mistaken. If the situation remained as it is we won't attend this summit."

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt on June 5 severed ties with Qatar for supporting extremism and terrorist groups, and issued Doha with a list of demands.

"Bahrain will not attend a summit with Qatar, which becomes closer to Iran each day and brings foreign forces (to its soil), dangerous steps for the security of GCC countries," Sheikh Khalid said in another tweet.



Saudi Arabia Affirms Unwavering Support for Global Humanitarian Efforts

The Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP file photo
The Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP file photo
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Saudi Arabia Affirms Unwavering Support for Global Humanitarian Efforts

The Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP file photo
The Saudi capital Riyadh. AFP file photo

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed its unwavering commitment to support global humanitarian issues and its contributions to alleviating the suffering of those affected by wars and disasters.

In a statement delivered at the UN Economic and Social Council, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's permanent representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, indicated that Saudi Arabia, despite global economic challenges, continues its generous approach as one of the largest donor countries in the humanitarian and development fields.

The ambassador explained that humanitarian crises have become exacerbated by the increase in armed conflicts and the decline in adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasizing that addressing the root causes of crises is crucial to alleviating human suffering.

He emphasized that Saudi Arabia's participation in the global initiative launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to reaffirm commitment to international humanitarian law, along with its hosting of multiple peace talks between conflicting parties, reflects its strong belief in the importance of dialogue as a means to achieve lasting peace.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, bin Khothaila explained that Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the serious violations and war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the brotherly Palestinian people. He emphasized that preventing humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip and using it as a tool of war constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. He reiterated Saudi Arabia's call for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire.

The ambassador noted that a peace conference, co-chaired with the French Republic, had been scheduled for June 2025 as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts within the Global Coalition to advance the two-state solution. However, recent regional developments have led to its postponement.

He emphasized the importance of integrating relief and development in addressing crises, pointing to Saudi Arabia's integrated model through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).