Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi has called for an immediate ceasefire between Palestinians and Israelis, as warplanes continued to bomb the Gaza Strip.
At the outset of a strategic dialogue session bringing together officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the EU in Muscat on Tuesday, Albusaidi also urged the release of captives on both sides and emphasized adherence to international humanitarian law.
He stressed the need to address the root causes of violence between the parties.
“We will not witness peace until the suffering of Palestinians is properly resolved in accordance with international law,” said Albusaidi.
Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, affirmed that the “two-state solution” is the way to make progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging the international community to work towards a settlement based on this principle.
The concluding statement of the 27th GCC-EU strategic dialogue session, as delivered by Borrell, expressed concerns regarding the developments in Israel.
It condemned all actions targeting civilians and called for water and food to be delivered to Gaza.
“We speak with one voice in urging restraint, an immediate ceasefire, the release of prisoners on both sides, and adherence to international humanitarian law,” said Albusaidi at the opening of the joint meeting between GCC foreign ministers and the EU in Muscat.
Albusaidi stressed that the “two-state solution is the only and best way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.”
He pointed out that the GCC and the EU both agreed on the importance of restraint, de-escalation, and the release of civilians held by all parties.
“We are committed to urgently supporting efforts to initiate a new and purposeful dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis for the sake of peace,” revealed Albusaidi.
For his part, Borell emphasized the need to seize the opportunity presented by the Gulf-European meeting to explore effective ways to defuse the ongoing crisis.
