British Foreign Secretary to Asharq Al-Awsat: Serious Work Underway to Avoid Expansion of Gaza War

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat in Riyadh (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat in Riyadh (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)
TT

British Foreign Secretary to Asharq Al-Awsat: Serious Work Underway to Avoid Expansion of Gaza War

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat in Riyadh (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat in Riyadh (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has stressed the importance of advancing the Arab initiative and the two-state solution as the Israel-Hamas war continues in the Gaza Strip.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in Riyadh on Thursday, Cleverly emphasized serious work to prevent the war in Gaza from turning into a regional conflict.

Cleverly pointed to his meetings with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan, and his earlier talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, saying that all discussions revolved around trying to stop the war from spreading to neighboring countries.

He said he told his Iranian counterpart about the necessity for Iran to use its influence on Hezbollah, the Houthis and the militias in Iraq and Syria to refrain from exploiting the ongoing war in Gaza to create more violence in Iraq and the region.

Asked about the British position on the developments in Gaza, Cleverly stressed that his country respects and supports Israel’s right to defend itself.

He added that Britain wanted to see Israel safe and secure, and the Palestinian people safe. In this context, he noted that the best means to achieve this goal was the implementation of the two-state solution.

On the ways to invest in the strategic relationship between Saudi Arabia and Britain to help find a solution to the conflict, Cleverly said that he discussed with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Oslo Accords, as well as efforts to ensure that the killings of Oct. 7 and the loss of life in Gaza are not repeated.

According to the British diplomat, the UK believes that the best way to achieve this end is to work towards a peaceful two-state solution.

Asked to comment on a statement by an Israeli minister about throwing a nuclear bomb on Gaza, Cleverly underlined that such remarks were completely wrong and inappropriate. He said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately dismissed the minister as he did not agree to these comments.

The British diplomat noted that his recent talks with Arab officials touched on the Arab Peace Initiative. He added that the UK would work with its partners, the peace partners in the Palestinian leadership, Israel and the Arab world, to try to achieve peace in the region.

Cleverly went on to say that the only way to achieve peace is when Israel feels that it is no longer threatened by Gaza.

He stressed that it was unfortunate to see the Hamas leadership openly threatening to commit mass murder, as happened on Oct. 7.

The British diplomat highlighted the necessity to replace what he called aggressive and violent people in leadership with persons committed to peace.

Cleverly concluded by saying that his country was working seriously to prevent the war in Gaza from turning into a regional conflict.



Siddiq al-Mahdi: Sudanese Public Unites on Need to End War

Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), Siddiq al-Mahdi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), Siddiq al-Mahdi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Siddiq al-Mahdi: Sudanese Public Unites on Need to End War

Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), Siddiq al-Mahdi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), Siddiq al-Mahdi (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Siddiq al-Mahdi, Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), stressed the urgent need for humanitarian aid to Sudanese citizens suffering from the ongoing conflict.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in Addis Ababa, al-Mahdi criticized the National Congress Party for manipulating its alliance with the military to advance its political goals.

Al-Mahdi said he would only engage in the political process if the party ends its connection with the military and security forces.

He highlighted a growing recognition of the need to end the war, noting a shift away from military solutions as a positive sign of Sudanese public opinion converging on the need for peace.

The Taqaddum official said this change has reduced support for the war and increased regional and international calls for its end.

Al-Mahdi warned that the war has caused a severe humanitarian crisis and poses threats to the region, neighboring countries, the Horn of Africa, and Red Sea security.

“The need to stop the war is now urgent, and we must act on this,” he said.

He praised international efforts, including the Paris and Cairo conferences and the UN's attempts to bring the warring sides together in Geneva for aid and protection.

Al-Mahdi also revealed that his coalition had proposed a plan to the military and Rapid Support Forces, focusing on humanitarian aid, political arrangements to end the war, and a transition to civilian democracy.

He stressed that the humanitarian situation cannot wait for the war to end.

“Providing aid and protecting citizens are urgent priorities. We need to act now to deliver aid, even before the war ends,” he said.

He noted that the best approach involves coordinating initiatives from various platforms, including Jeddah, IGAD, and its key member states Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, as well as Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, the African Union, and the United Nations.

Al-Mahdi emphasized that all these entities are working on humanitarian and peace efforts.

He stated that any alignment among mediators, conflict parties, and civil components is viewed by Taqaddum as a comprehensive process for achieving peace.