Saudi Arabia Pledges $150 Million at Global Vaccine Summit

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the virtual summit. Saudi Foreign Ministry Twitter account
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the virtual summit. Saudi Foreign Ministry Twitter account
TT

Saudi Arabia Pledges $150 Million at Global Vaccine Summit

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the virtual summit. Saudi Foreign Ministry Twitter account
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attends the virtual summit. Saudi Foreign Ministry Twitter account

Saudi Arabia pledged on Thursday $150 million to the GAVI vaccine alliance, a public-private global health partnership.

During an extraordinary virtual G20 summit on coronavirus that it chaired in March, Saudi Arabia announced that it would contribute $500 million to international efforts to fight the pandemic.

Of that amount, $150 million would be allocated to GAVI, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a vaccine summit hosted by the British government.

The summit, held virtually in London, aims to raise at least $7.4 billion for GAVI to immunize a further 300 million children in the world's poorest countries by 2025 against diseases such as malaria, polio, diphtheria and measles.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms its support for the noble work GAVI carries out in protecting human lives,” Prince Faisal said on his Twitter account.

“I was honored to represent the Kingdom at today’s vaccine summit and to announce the allocation of US$150 million to support the great efforts of the alliance,” he added.



OIC, MWL Condemn Escalation of Israeli Attacks in West Bank

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) logo
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) logo
TT

OIC, MWL Condemn Escalation of Israeli Attacks in West Bank

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) logo
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) logo

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday strongly condemned the attacks and crimes committed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, particularly in Jenin and its refugee camp.

In a statement, the OIC also condemned the destruction of roads and infrastructure in Jenin, and the establishment of military checkpoints and iron gates to isolate Palestinian cities and villages.

The OIC considered such actions as part of a broader pattern of war crimes against the Palestinian people.

The organization warned against the ongoing crimes perpetrated by extremist settler groups, operating with the protection of Israeli occupation forces, with the latest attack targeting several Palestinian villages, where property, homes, vehicles, and agricultural lands were set on fire.

It also held Israel directly accountable for such crimes and emphasized the need for accountability under international criminal law.

The OIC renewed its call on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities, put an end to the ongoing Israeli terrorism across the occupied Palestinian territories, and provide protection to the Palestinian people.

The Muslim World League (MWL) also strongly condemned the operation carried out by Israeli forces in Jenin.
In a statement issued Thursday, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa denounced this “grave violation,” stating that it adds to a series of ongoing and serious breaches of international and humanitarian laws, threatens further losses among innocent civilians, and undermines the chances of peace and stability in the region.