Six-Party Arab Group Warns of Israeli Aggression on Gaza, Calls for Two-State Solution

The foreign ministers of the six-party Arab group held a consultative meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)
The foreign ministers of the six-party Arab group held a consultative meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)
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Six-Party Arab Group Warns of Israeli Aggression on Gaza, Calls for Two-State Solution

The foreign ministers of the six-party Arab group held a consultative meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)
The foreign ministers of the six-party Arab group held a consultative meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)

Foreign ministers from the six-party Arab Committee emphasized on Saturday during a high-level dialogue in Riyadh the necessity of ending the war on the Gaza Strip and reaching an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, chaired the ministerial consultative meeting of the six-party Arab Committee to discuss the developments of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, Ayman Al-Safadi; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry; the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hussein Al-Sheikh; the Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, Anwar Gargash; and the Minister of State at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi.
The ministers emphasized the necessity of ending the war on the Gaza Strip and reaching an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire ensuring the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Recognition of a Palestinian State
They also emphasized the importance of irreversible steps towards implementing the two-state solution and recognizing the State of Palestine within the borders of June 4, 1967, with its capital in East Al-Quds (Jerusalem), in accordance with relevant international resolutions.
They stressed that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory and firmly rejected any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land or any military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah.
Additionally, the ministers warned against the ongoing illegal Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, which undermine the two-state solution.
A Number of Meetings in Riyadh
An unnamed source told Asharq Al-Awsat Thursday that several meetings are expected to be held, under Saudi sponsorship, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum that will be held in Riyadh between April 28 and 29.
These will include a meeting of the Arab foreign ministers with the participation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and another meeting of the Arab ministers with European Union countries.
The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council will also hold a meeting with their American counterpart next Monday.
Recognition of the Palestinian state is one of the main topics on the agenda of the meetings, added the source.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan revealed on Monday that talks have begun to circulate within the corridors of the European Union toward recognizing the Palestinian state.
Blinken’s Seventh Visit
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, is visiting the region for the seventh time since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
He is expected to meet with Arab and regional officials, in addition to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, according to the source.



Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra
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Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday expressing concern over the recent military movements witnessed in the governorates of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra.

It noted that “the actions carried out by the Southern Transitional Council were taken unilaterally, without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the coalition leadership”.

The Kingdom described the moves as an “unjustified escalation” that has harmed the interests of the Yemeni people across all segments of society, undermined the Southern cause, and weakened the coalition’s efforts.

The Kingdom further emphasized that, in recent months, it has focused on maintaining unity and has undertaken intensive efforts to reach peaceful solutions to address the situation in the two governorates, as part of its ongoing endeavors to restore stability.

The statement added that these efforts were “coordinated with the brethren United Arab Emirates, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government to contain the situation”.

It said that a “joint Saudi–Emirati military team was dispatched to coordinate with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, ensuring the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates and the handover of camps to the National Shield Forces and local authorities under the coalition’s supervision”.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that efforts are still underway to restore the situation to its previous state, expressing the Kingdom’s hope that the public interest will prevail and that the Southern Transitional Council will take the initiative to de-escalate tensions and urgently and peacefully withdraw its forces from the two governorates.

Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni forces and components, exercising restraint, and avoiding actions that could undermine security and stability.

The Kingdom reiterated its position that the “Southern cause is a just issue with historical and social dimensions and can only be resolved through dialogue that brings all Yemeni parties together at one table, within a comprehensive political process that ensures a lasting solution in Yemen”.

The statement concluded by affirming the Kingdom’s “support for the Chairman and members of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, in a manner that achieves security, stability, development, and peace in the sisterly Republic of Yemen”.


MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
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MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned the attack targeting police personnel in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

In a statement issued by its General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa, affirmed the League’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the face of all threats to its security and stability. He reiterated the MWL’s firm rejection and condemnation of violence and terrorism in all their forms and under any pretext.

He also extended his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and to the Pakistani people.


Sultan of Oman Awards Military Order to Royal Saudi Air Force Commander

Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
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Sultan of Oman Awards Military Order to Royal Saudi Air Force Commander

Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik awarded on Wednesday the Military Order of Oman (Second Class) to Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz in recognition of his efforts and contributions to strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.

The order was presented to the RSAF commander by Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, in the presence of Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) Air Vice Marshal Khamis Al Ghafri, Saudi Ambassador to Oman Ibrahim bin Saad bin Bishan, and the accompanying delegation.

During the visit, the RSAF commander also met with Minister of the Royal Office of Oman General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nomani for talks on issues of mutual interest.

Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz arrived in Oman on Tuesday on an official visit during which he met with the commander of RAFO. The discussions addressed issues of common interest, particularly in the field of joint training and exercises.

The visit included a tour of the Air Center for Specialized Training, where the delegation reviewed the advanced capabilities on display, reflecting the level of development achieved by the Royal Air Force of Oman.