Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, UAE

 Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council Abdullah Al Sheikh heads the delegation that took part in the 32nd Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council Abdullah Al Sheikh heads the delegation that took part in the 32nd Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, UAE

 Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council Abdullah Al Sheikh heads the delegation that took part in the 32nd Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council Abdullah Al Sheikh heads the delegation that took part in the 32nd Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union has strongly condemned the Houthi militia attempts to harm the people, territory and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

This came in a statement following the union’s 32nd conference in Cairo on Friday, during which Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh, the speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council, led the Kingdom’s delegation.

The union condemned the recent missile and drone attacks by the Houthi militias, saying that they represent a direct threat to Arab and international peace and security.

The statement also affirmed the union’s full support for the right of the UAE sand Saudi Arabia to defend the integrity, sovereignty, citizens and security of their lands.

"No progress can be made to end the Yemeni crisis without stopping the hostilities carried out by the Houthi militias and putting an end to their repeated violations against Yemenis," the Arab parliamentarians stressed in their statement.

They also underscored the importance of cooperating to implement Security Council Resolution No. 2216 (2015), which bans the supply of arms to Houthis, as well as Arab League Resolution No. 8725 (2022), which calls for designating Houthis as a terrorist group.

They condemned the Houthi militias’ escalation and attempts to control Yemen by force and their disregard for the calls by the UN Security Council and the international community in this regard.

The Union underlined the need to free the Middle East region from weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons, as an effective means to help reduce the intensity of regional and international conflicts and disputes and achieve international peace and security.

It called for employing the advanced sciences of nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes.

Regarding Palestine, the Union reiterated its firm position of solidarity and permanent support for the Palestinian cause and right to establish an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital on the June 4, 1967 borders, in line with relevant UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.

The parliamentarians further stressed the importance of solving any Arab conflicts internally and preventing any regional interferences in Arab affairs to ensure the security and stability of the Arab region.



Saudi FM Says Hopeful Gaza Ceasefire Will Hold 

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi FM Says Hopeful Gaza Ceasefire Will Hold 

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025. (Reuters)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah said on Wednesday that it was a “responsibility of all of us in the region” to keep the ceasefire in Gaza on track.

“I am hopeful Gaza ceasefire will hold,” he said from the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to Reuters.

On Tuesday, the Saudi government hoped on that the ceasefire would end the “barbaric Israeli war” and help address the root cause of the conflict by allowing the Palestinian people to achieve their rights, starting with the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 border and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect on Sunday following 15 months of a brutal war that left the Gaza Strip in ruins.

The first phase of the truce, lasting 42 days, will include Hamas’ release of 33 Israeli hostages, while Israel will release 1,904 Palestinian detainees.

Negotiations over the second phase of the deal will take place on February 3.