Saudi Arabia Condemns Storming of Presidential Palace in Yemen’s Aden

A general view of Aden, Yemen. (Reuters file photo)
A general view of Aden, Yemen. (Reuters file photo)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Storming of Presidential Palace in Yemen’s Aden

A general view of Aden, Yemen. (Reuters file photo)
A general view of Aden, Yemen. (Reuters file photo)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Tuesday the storming of the Mashiq presidential palace by protesters in the Yemeni interim capital Aden.

Riyadh underscored its support to the new Yemeni government that had kicked off its duties in Aden on December 30. The government was formed through the Riyadh Agreement.

The Kingdom called on the parties of the agreement to urgently meet in Riyadh to continue the implementation of the pact.

Its implementation ensures that the various parties in Yemen will be united, which will help end the bloodshed and mend the rift between them, it added. This in turn will help the war-torn country continue its mission to restore its state, security and stability and support efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to its crisis.



OIC Adopts Arab Alternative to Trump’s Gaza Plan

Diplomats attend an Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on March 7, 2025. (AFP)
Diplomats attend an Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on March 7, 2025. (AFP)
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OIC Adopts Arab Alternative to Trump’s Gaza Plan

Diplomats attend an Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on March 7, 2025. (AFP)
Diplomats attend an Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on March 7, 2025. (AFP)

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation formally adopted early Saturday an Arab League counter-proposal to US President Donald Trump's plan to take over Gaza and displace its residents, calling on the international community to support the regional initiative.

The decision by the 57-member grouping came at an emergency meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, three days after the Arab League ratified the plan at a summit in Cairo.

The Egyptian-crafted alternative to Trump's widely condemned takeover proposes to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority.

The OIC "adopts the plan... on the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza", a communique said.

The body, which represents the Muslim world, urged "the international community and international and regional funding institutions to swiftly provide the necessary support for the plan".

Trump triggered global outrage when he suggested the US "take over" Gaza and turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East", while forcing its Palestinian inhabitants to relocate to Egypt or Jordan.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty welcomed the OIC endorsement and said he now hoped to gain support from the wider international community, including the US.

"The next step is for the plan to become an international plan through adoption by the European Union and international parties such as Japan, Russia, China and others," Abdelatty said.

"This is what we will seek and we have contact with all parties, including the American party."

However, the Egyptian proposal -- which does not outline a role for Hamas, which controls Gaza -- has already been rejected by both the US and Israel.

The plan "does not meet the expectations" of Washington, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters on Thursday.

Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, however, gave a more positive reaction, calling it a "good-faith first step from the Egyptians".

Trump's plan has united Arab countries in opposition, and Rabha Seif Allam, of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, said Egypt was seeking "broad support" for its proposal.

"This is an attempt to build a broad coalition that refuses the displacement" of Palestinians from Gaza, she said.