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Gulf

GCC, Arab League Welcome UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire

Palestinians inspect the damage to a building after overnight Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
Palestinians inspect the damage to a building after overnight Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
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GCC, Arab League Welcome UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire

Palestinians inspect the damage to a building after overnight Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
Palestinians inspect the damage to a building after overnight Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi welcomed the issuance of the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the holy month of Ramadan.
The resolution aims to achieve a permanent and sustainable ceasefire, secure the release of all hostages, ensure parties' compliance with their obligations under international law, and expand the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in the entire Gaza Strip while enhancing their protection, the GCC said in a statement.
Albudaiwi expressed his hope that this resolution will alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza and contribute to stopping the escalation and targeting of Palestinian civilians and their forced displacement in hopes of achieving a comprehensive halt to the crisis and ending the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Albudaiwi also called on the Israeli occupation forces to immediately comply with this resolution and adhere to United Nations resolutions and the requirements of international humanitarian law, while immediately stopping targeting civilians in Gaza and humanitarian institutions and infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and shelters.
He reiterated the urgent need to find a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause, end the ongoing suffering, and give the Palestinian people hope and the ability to achieve their basic rights to live in security and self-determination, by enabling the Palestinians to establish their Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and with east Jerusalem as the capital, in accordance with the relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Also, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit welcomed the adoption of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Aboul Gheit emphasized that the adoption of the resolution signifies a notable shift in the international stance towards the aggressive war in Gaza.

"The shift was highlighted by the United States choosing not to use its veto power", he noted.
Aboul Gheit underscored the need for collaborative international efforts in the coming period to effectively implement the resolution in a form that brings an end to the ongoing bloodshed.
He affirmed the importance that the resolution’s implementation ensures that the Israeli occupation power assumes its responsibilities and holds it accountable for its crimes.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Arab, and Islamic Nations Condemn Israel’s Death Penalty Law for Palestinians

Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Saudi Arabia, Arab, and Islamic Nations Condemn Israel’s Death Penalty Law for Palestinians

Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye and the UAE strongly condemned on Thursday Israel’s law that allows the imposition of the death penalty in the occupied West Bank and its de facto application against Palestinians, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministers warned against the increasingly discriminatory, escalating Israeli practices that entrench a system of apartheid and a rejectionist discourse that denies the inalienable rights and the very existence of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

The ministers warned that this legislation represents a dangerous escalation, especially due to its discriminatory targeting of Palestinian prisoners, and emphasized that such measures could intensify tensions and further destabilize the region.

The ministers also expressed deep concern over the conditions of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention, warning of mounting risks amid credible reports of ongoing abuses, including torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, starvation, and denial of basic rights. They emphasized that these practices reflect a broader pattern of violations against the Palestinian people.

The ministers reiterated their firm opposition to Israel’s racially discriminatory, oppressive, and aggressive policies directed against Palestinians.

The ministers further emphasized the urgent need to refrain from measures imposed by the occupying power that risk further inflaming tensions on the ground. They stressed the importance of ensuring accountability and called for strengthened international efforts to uphold stability and prevent further deterioration.

Gulf

Iran Threatens Energy Security with Attacks on Gulf Oil Tankers

Saudi Arabia possesses one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the world (Saudi Ministry of Defense). 
Saudi Arabia possesses one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the world (Saudi Ministry of Defense). 
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Iran Threatens Energy Security with Attacks on Gulf Oil Tankers

Saudi Arabia possesses one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the world (Saudi Ministry of Defense). 
Saudi Arabia possesses one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the world (Saudi Ministry of Defense). 

Iran escalated its military operations in the region on Wednesday, targeting Gulf states and oil tankers in regional waters in attacks widely seen as a direct threat to energy security and international navigation.

Gulf air defenses intercepted dozens of missiles and drones, with officials stressing a high level of readiness to protect airspace and critical infrastructure while minimizing damage.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry spokesman, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, said four drones had been intercepted and destroyed in recent hours.

In two separate statements, al-Maliki confirmed the success of the operations, underscoring the armed forces’ readiness to defend the Kingdom’s airspace and counter various threats, with no damage reported.

Riyadh also reiterated its strong condemnation of what it described as “blatant Iranian aggression” against the Kingdom, Arab states and the wider region during the 43rd session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, held via videoconference.

Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud stressed the importance of strengthening Arab security cooperation and coordinating efforts to confront evolving threats and combat crime in all its forms to safeguard regional stability.

Kuwait

A drone attack by Iran and allied groups targeting fuel tanks at the Kuwait International Airport triggered a large fire on Wednesday but caused no casualties.

Kuwait News Agency quoted civil aviation spokesman Abdullah al-Rajhi as saying rescue teams responded immediately, with initial reports indicating material damage to facilities operated by Kuwait Aviation Fueling Company (KAFCO).

Britain affirmed its support for Kuwait’s security amid the current situation, pledging to stand by the country against any threats to its sovereignty, stability and safety.

The message was conveyed from King Charles III to Kuwait’s emir, Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, and delivered by British ambassador Qudsi Rasheed to Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Hamad Jaber al-Ali al-Sabah.

Bahrain

Bahrain’s Defense Force said it intercepted and destroyed four ballistic missiles and 19 drones in recent hours.

The General Command added that since the start of the Iranian attacks, 186 missiles and 419 drones had been intercepted. It said the use of such weapons against civilian sites and private property constitute a “flagrant violation” of international humanitarian law and the UN Charter and pose a direct threat to regional peace and security.

The interior ministry said firefighters had extinguished a blaze at a company facility caused by what it described as Iranian aggression.

Bahrain’s National Communication Center urged the public to follow official guidance, verify information accuracy and avoid spreading rumors amid the ongoing attacks.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates said its air defenses intercepted five ballistic missiles and 35 drones launched from Iran.

Falling debris from an intercepted drone killed an Asian national on a farm in Fujairah, authorities said. The victim was identified as a Bangladeshi citizen.

The Fujairah government media office said emergency teams responded to the incident in the Al-Rifaa area following the successful interception.

Official figures showed that since the start of the attacks, UAE defenses had dealt with 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles and 2,012 drones. The assaults have killed two members of the armed forces while on duty, a Moroccan civilian contractor working with the military, and nine other civilians.

Qatar and maritime incidents

Qatar’s defense ministry said the country had been targeted by three Iranian cruise missiles. Air defenses intercepted two, while the third struck an oil tanker chartered by QatarEnergy in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Authorities coordinated the evacuation of the vessel, which carried a crew of 21, with no casualties reported.

In a related development, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported a new security incident in Gulf waters.

According to the organization, the incident occurred 17 nautical miles north of Ras Laffan. A company security officer said the tanker was hit on its port side, causing damage above the waterline without injuries among the crew.

In a later update, the organization said the vessel had in fact been struck twice. One impact caused a fire that was later extinguished, while a second projectile remained unexploded in the engine room, with authorities working to secure it and investigate the incident.

On Tuesday, Iran targeted the Kuwaiti crude oil tanker “Al-Salmi” while it was anchored off the United Arab Emirates outside Dubai port. Several vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were also attacked using armed boats, missiles and drones.

 

 

Gulf

Presidents of the UAE, US Discuss Regional Escalation and Global Security Risks

File photo: Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and US President Donald Trump meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (AP)
File photo: Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and US President Donald Trump meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (AP)
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Presidents of the UAE, US Discuss Regional Escalation and Global Security Risks

File photo: Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and US President Donald Trump meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (AP)
File photo: Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and US President Donald Trump meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (AP)

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed on Wednesday the regional escalations and their impact on regional and global security during a phone call with US President Donald Trump.

The two leaders addressed the implications of rising tensions, including their impact on global markets, international maritime security, the world economy, and supply chains. They exchanged views on the broader consequences of the current escalation.

The two sides also addressed the ongoing Iranian attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates and several countries in the region, including strikes on civilians, critical facilities, and infrastructure. They stressed that such actions represent a breach of national sovereignty and international law and pose a direct threat to regional security and stability.

On Wednesday, the UAE Ministry of Defense said its air defenses intercepted five ballistic missiles and 35 drones launched from Iran on its territories.

It added that a total of 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 2,012 drones have been intercepted since the start of these attacks on February 28.

The attacks killed two armed forces personnel and 10 civilians of various nationalities, and injured 190 others. The ministry said it remains on high alert and ready to respond decisively to any threats to national security, sovereignty, and stability.