Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah stressed on Monday the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
He also underlined the need to increase aid allowed into the Palestinian coastal enclave given the total siege imposed by Israel since Hamas’ Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7.
He warned that Gaza is suffering from a stifling humanitarian disaster, urging the international community to assume its responsibility to make Israel stop its violations.
Prince Faisal made his remarks in China where he, along with his Muslim and Arab counterparts, were visiting as part of a committee that was formed in wake of the extraordinary Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit that was held in Riyadh earlier this month to tackle the conflict in Gaza.
The committee, led by Prince Faisal, has been tasked with visiting influential countries to push for a ceasefire. China was the first stop of their tour.
“There are still dangerous developments ahead of us and an urgent humanitarian crisis that requires an international mobilization to deal with and counter it,” he said.
He added they appreciated the resolution issued by the United Nations Security Council, calling for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses in Gaza, “but we still need more efforts and cooperation.”
The committee met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday. It includes Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Al-Maliki, Türkiye’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and OIC Secretary General Hussein Ibrahim Taha.
China’s top diplomat welcomed the ministers, saying his country would work with “our brothers and sisters” in the Arab and Islamic world to try to end the war in Gaza as soon as possible.
Wang told the foreign diplomats that their decision to start in Beijing shows their high level of trust in his nation.
“China is a good friend and brother of Arab and Islamic countries,” Wang said in opening remarks at a state guest house before their talks began. “We have always firmly safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of Arab (and) Islamic countries and have always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people.”
China has long backed the Palestinians and been quick to denounce Israel over its settlements in the occupied territories.
The five foreign ministers will visit a number of capitals in an effort to pursue a ceasefire, get aid into Gaza and end the war, Prince Faisal said last weekend.
Israel's retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip have so far killed more than 11,500 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. Another 2,700 have been reported missing, believed buried in rubble.
“This isn’t Israel’s first war against the Palestinian people,” said Al-Maliki, the Palestinian Authority foreign minister. “However, Israel wants this to be its last war, where it takes full control of the Palestinian people’s presence on what’s left of the historical land of Palestine.”
