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Saudi Minister: We Will Not Allow Turning the Holy Sites into an Arena for Slogans

The daily press conference held during the Hajj season (Photo by: Adnan Mahdali).
The daily press conference held during the Hajj season (Photo by: Adnan Mahdali).
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Saudi Minister: We Will Not Allow Turning the Holy Sites into an Arena for Slogans

The daily press conference held during the Hajj season (Photo by: Adnan Mahdali).
The daily press conference held during the Hajj season (Photo by: Adnan Mahdali).

The official spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Interior Col. Talal Al-Shalhoub, affirmed on Friday that Saudi Arabia will not allow the holy sites to be turned into arenas for slogans and chants that diverge from the purposes of Islamic Sharia.
He emphasized that the security and safety of the pilgrims is a red line that will not be compromised.
During the daily press conference for this year's Hajj season, Shalhoub announced the successful and smooth implementation of the first phase of the plan to transport pilgrims to the holy sites.
He stressed that security forces will continue to maintain a tight security cordon around the holy sites until the end of the Hajj season.
For his part, Mohammed Al-Abdali, the official spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Health, highlighted the ministry's readiness to serve the pilgrims for this year's season. He said all health plans have been successfully implemented.
"More than 35,000 healthcare professionals and members of the healthcare system, along with over 5,500 health volunteers, take pride in serving and caring for the guests of Allah”, said Al-Abdali.
A total of 189 hospitals and health centers, in addition to mobile clinics and field hospitals, 98 ambulance centers, 14 health monitoring centers at land, air, and sea entry points, and 32 trucks for distributing medical supplies, have been set to serve the guests of Allah in addition to many other facilitations.
Dr. Ayed Algwinm, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, highlighted the significant developmental projects witnessed in the holy sites' infrastructure, including water networks, enhanced electrical capacity, aimed at improving services and raising the standard of accommodation.
The exceptional collaboration between the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, and the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, have made this possible, he underscored.
Saleh Al-Zuaid, the official spokesman for the transportation and logistical services system said that Saudi airports had received over 19,000 incoming flights from approximately 90 countries as of Thursday.
He also mentioned that the Haramain High-Speed Railway has operated more than 2,700 trips since the beginning of the Hajj season. The Jeddah Islamic Port received 7 ships carrying pilgrims from Sudan and 129 ships carrying over 600,000 containers in total.
 

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Albudaiwi Praises International Coalition for a Two-State Solution to Grant Palestinians Their Legitimate Rights

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi - SPA
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi - SPA
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Albudaiwi Praises International Coalition for a Two-State Solution to Grant Palestinians Their Legitimate Rights

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi - SPA
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi - SPA

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, praised the launch of the International Coalition for a Two-State Solution, expressing hope that this coalition will help grant the Palestinian people their legitimate rights to establish their state and live in peace and security.
This statement was made during his speech at the ministerial meeting titled "The Situation in Gaza and Implementing the Two-State Solution as a Path to Just Peace," organized by the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union, and Norway, on Thursday, September 26, 2024, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
Albudaiwi noted that holding this important event comes at an extremely critical time, as the situation in Gaza has reached one of the most severe humanitarian crises of our modern era. He emphasised the GCC's commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at alleviating the immense suffering of the Palestinian people, SPA reported.
He called for decisive action from the international community in light of the ongoing crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, whose victims are the beleaguered Palestinian people, suffering from severe shortages of essential supplies, destruction of infrastructure, and loss of innocent lives, the majority of whom are women and children.
"These actions represent a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, and those responsible for these violations must be held accountable," he stated.
During his speech, the GCC Secretary General also commended the ministerial committee formed by the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit for its significant diplomatic efforts in garnering international support for a ceasefire, ending the Israeli aggression in Gaza, and enhancing recognition of the Palestinian state while ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid to the neediest populations.
He expressed gratitude to all countries that have recognized the State of Palestine, urging other nations to take this step to affirm their commitment to international justice and support the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state. Moreover, he renewed the GCC's call for an international conference that includes all relevant parties to end the occupation and ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He emphasized that this solution is the only way to achieve peace and stability for both Palestinians and Israelis.
He pointed out that the international community must recognise that the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and repeated violations of Islamic holy sites, particularly Al Aqsa Mosque, exacerbate tensions in the region. "These practices not only threaten the prospects for peace but also constitute violations of international law, complicating the path toward a two-state solution, which remains the only viable option for achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace," Albudaiwi said.
In conclusion, he asserted that the time has come to turn words into actions, and the international community has a moral and legal obligation to take decisive steps, not only to provide immediate relief to Gaza but also to ensure a just and lasting peace. "The GCC stands ready to cooperate with all parties to achieve these goals," he concluded.