GCC Urges Russia, Ukraine to Return to Diplomacy

A Ukrainian soldier looks through binoculars at a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, March 16, 2022. (AP)
A Ukrainian soldier looks through binoculars at a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, March 16, 2022. (AP)
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GCC Urges Russia, Ukraine to Return to Diplomacy

A Ukrainian soldier looks through binoculars at a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, March 16, 2022. (AP)
A Ukrainian soldier looks through binoculars at a military check point, in Lityn, Ukraine, March 16, 2022. (AP)

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) expressed “grave concern” about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and called for the need to return to diplomacy and resort to dialogue and peaceful negotiations between the parties to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

The GCC issued a statement before the United Nations general assembly’s emergency session on Ukraine, reaffirming that “GCC states are following up with deep concern the deteriorating situation in the Republic of Ukraine.”

The statement was delivered by Saudi Arabia's deputy representative to the UN Mohammed Al-Ateeq.

Al-Ateeq stressed that GCC countries are following with great concern and regret the repercussions of the situation in Ukraine, especially on humanitarian affairs, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The representative said GCC countries are committed to well-established principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations that govern relations between states and are based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Al-Ateeq reiterated that the GCC states have friendly relations with all parties, and appreciate and encourage the efforts made by all actors to spare civilians more suffering, noting that in this regard, the GCC commends the efforts made by the countries that hosted those fleeing conflict areas without discrimination.

On behalf of the GCC, he called on all parties to abide by their obligations towards international law and international humanitarian law, especially with regard to the protection of civilians and refraining from targeting or destroying any vital installations.

He praised the tireless efforts spent by the UN and humanitarian organizations to respond urgently to humanitarian needs, most notably dispatching a humanitarian aid convoy to the city of Sumy, which took place after an agreement between the parties to the conflict.

GCC states hope that this initiative will be a step in the way of reaching a peaceful and sustainable solution to the crisis, said Al-Ateeq.



Qatar PM Hopes Palestinian Authority Will Return to Gaza When War Ends

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2025. (AFP)
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2025. (AFP)
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Qatar PM Hopes Palestinian Authority Will Return to Gaza When War Ends

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2025. (AFP)
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2025. (AFP)

Qatar's Prime Minister said in Davos on Tuesday he hoped the Palestinian Authority would return to play a governing role in Gaza once the war with Israel comes to an end.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Switzerland, two days after the ceasefire Qatar helped broker came into effect in Gaza, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani cautioned that Gazans -- and not any other country -- should dictate the way the enclave will be governed.

"We hope to see the PA back in Gaza. We hope to see a government that will really address the issues of the people over there. And there is a long way to go with Gaza and the destruction," he said.

How Gaza will be governed after the war was not directly addressed in the deal between Israel and Hamas movement that led to an immediate ceasefire and hostage releases after nearly 15 months of talks mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US.

Israel has rejected any governing role for Hamas, which ran Gaza before the war, but it has been almost equally opposed to rule by the Palestinian Authority, the body set up under the Oslo interim peace accords three decades ago that has limited governing power in the West Bank.

The PA, dominated by the Fatah faction created by former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, faces opposition from rival faction Hamas, which drove the PA out of Gaza in 2007 after a brief war.