Griffiths Meets Yemen Legitimate Govt. to Receive Approval on Draft ‘Joint Declaration’

Yemen’s caretaker foreign minister meets Griffiths on Sunday. (Saba news agency)
Yemen’s caretaker foreign minister meets Griffiths on Sunday. (Saba news agency)
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Griffiths Meets Yemen Legitimate Govt. to Receive Approval on Draft ‘Joint Declaration’

Yemen’s caretaker foreign minister meets Griffiths on Sunday. (Saba news agency)
Yemen’s caretaker foreign minister meets Griffiths on Sunday. (Saba news agency)

United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths met on Saturday and Sunday with officials from the legitimate government to receive their approval on his final draft to the “joint declaration.”

The officials informed him that they are committed to the three references, which they say are necessary to achieve any progress in UN-sponsored peace with the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

The officials also expressed the government’s clear disappointment with the UN and international community’s lenient approach with the Houthis that have recently escalated their attacks in the Marib province. Such actions demonstrate that the militias are reluctant to embrace peace or de-escalate the situation.

Despite the ongoing pressure by Griffiths on leaders of the legitimacy, the government still has major reservations over several points in the draft joint declaration, Yemeni sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The declaration calls for a comprehensive ceasefire, kicking off humanitarian and economic measures and a return to negotiations to reach comprehensive peace.

Parliament Speaker Sultan al-Burkani stressed during a meeting with Griffiths the need for the UN and its envoy to take “serious steps towards achieving just and comprehensive peace based on the three references.” The references are the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the national dialogue and UN Security Council resolutions, especially resolution 2216.

The speaker told the envoy that the situation in Yemen “can no longer tolerate more leniency towards the Houthis or silence from the UN and international community.”

“Peace efforts are being confronted by Houthi intransigence and their widescale war in Marib and al-Jawf,” he remarked.

For his part, Griffiths said efforts were underway with all parties to complete the joint declaration in coming days, revealed official Yemeni sources.

The envoy met on Sunday with caretaker Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hadrami, who condemned the Houthis’ ongoing military escalation in Marif and al-Jawf and their firing of ballistic missiles at residential areas.

Moreover, he said the militias were taking advantage of the ceasefire agreement in the Hodeidah province to recruit more children to their ranks and send them to the battlefronts in Marib and al-Jawf.

Official sources quoted him as informing Griffiths that the Hodeidah agreement was “futile”. He also urged the Security Council to assume its responsibilities and condemn the Houthi escalation, especially in al-Marib that is home to more than 3 million people.



UN Chief Says Forcing Palestinians to Move Away Is against International Law

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a statement about the ongoing humanitarian situation and fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 08 April 2025. (EPA)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a statement about the ongoing humanitarian situation and fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 08 April 2025. (EPA)
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UN Chief Says Forcing Palestinians to Move Away Is against International Law

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a statement about the ongoing humanitarian situation and fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 08 April 2025. (EPA)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a statement about the ongoing humanitarian situation and fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 08 April 2025. (EPA)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that it would be against international law for Palestinians to be forced to be moved away, responding to questions about a US push to take control of the Gaza Strip.

"To be forced to be moved away is something that is against international law," Guterres told a press briefing. "Palestinians must be able to live in a Palestinian state side by side with an Israeli state. That is the only solution that can bring peace to the Middle East."

Guterres also rejected a new Israeli proposal to control aid deliveries in Gaza, saying it risks "further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour."

"Let me be clear: We will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality," Guterres told reporters.

No aid has been delivered to the Palestinian enclave of some 2.1 million people since March 2. Israel has said it would not allow the entry of all goods and supplies into Gaza until Palestinian militants Hamas release all remaining hostages.

COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, last week met with UN agencies and international aid groups and said it proposed "a structured monitoring and aid entry mechanism" for Gaza.

"The mechanism is designed to support aid organizations, enhance oversight and accountability, and ensure that assistance reaches the civilian population in need, rather than being diverted and stolen by Hamas," COGAT posted on X on Sunday.

Jonathan Whittall, the senior UN aid official for Gaza and the West Bank, said last week that there was no evidence of aid being diverted.

Israel last month resumed its bombardment of Gaza after a two-month truce and sent troops back into the enclave.

"Gaza is a killing field – and civilians are in an endless death loop," said Guterres as he again called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and full humanitarian access in Gaza.

"With crossing points into Gaza shut and aid blockaded, security is in shambles and our capacity to deliver has been strangled," he said.

"As the occupying power, Israel has unequivocal obligations under international law – including international humanitarian law and international human rights law," Guterres said.

That means Israel should facilitate relief programs and ensure food, medical care, hygiene and public-health standards in Gaza, he said. "None of that is happening today," he added.

Israel says it does not exercise effective control over Gaza and therefore is not an occupying power.

The war in Gaza was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities.