The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries demanded on Sunday an end to Israel’s war on Gaza.
Meeting at the 45th session of the Supreme Council in Kuwait, they called for an end to the killing of Palestinians, "collective punishment in Gaza, the displacement of residents, and the destruction of civilian facilities and infrastructure, including health facilities, schools, and places of worship, in clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law."
The meeting was held in wake of the ongoing war on Gaza and the recent ceasefire declared in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah.
The gatherers called for an end to Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank and violations in the city of Jerusalem and against Islamic and Christian holy sites.
They called for international efforts to negotiate sustainable solutions, reiterating their firm stances on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, ending the occupation, and supporting the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all occupied Palestinian territories since June 1967. They renewed the demand for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and guaranteeing the rights of refugees, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and international resolutions.
The leaders welcomed the resolutions of the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit, hosted by Saudi Arabia on November 11, aimed at boosting international action to stop the war on Gaza, achieving lasting and comprehensive peace and implementing the two-state according to the Arab Peace Initiative.
They welcomed the efforts in mobilizing support for the recognition of the State of Palestine and leading the international coalition to implement the two-state solution. They commended Qatar’s efforts reach a ceasefire in Gaza and exchange detainees.
Moreover, the GCC leaders condemned the continued Israeli attacks against Lebanon, warning that they may undermine the ceasefire and risk expanding the conflict, "which would lead to dire consequences for the peoples of the region and for international peace and security."
They hoped the ceasefire would lead to Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territories, the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, and the return of displaced to their homes.
The leaders expressed "full solidarity with the brotherly Lebanese people", recalling the efforts of Kuwait and the GCC initiative. They urged the Lebanese people "to prioritize the supreme national interest, turn to political solutions to resolve differences and to strengthen Lebanon's historical role in preserving Arab national security and culture, as well as its deep fraternal relations with the GCC states."
The leaders also welcomed the continued efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia and Oman with all Yemeni parties to revive the political process.
The leaders commended the growing role of the GCC states in addressing political, security, and economic challenges in the region and beyond. They underlined their contribution to resolving issues that threaten peace, security, and stability, promoting international dialogue and communication between peoples, and fruitful strategic partnerships with other countries and groups.
Turning to the Gulf, the GCC leaders called for intensifying efforts to boost the region's position as an international hub for business and the economy. They underlined the continued efforts aimed at achieving sustainable economic diversification, stability in energy markets, and successfully dealing with climate change.
They underscored the strategic importance of the digital economy as a main pillar supporting the future of development in the region. Digital economy is a historical opportunity to bolster economic growth and achieve integration among the GCC states.
They praised the advanced and flexible digital infrastructure that characterizes the GCC states, considering it a key factor supporting digital economic aspirations.
The leaders pointed to the importance of strategic investments in information technology fields, such as artificial intelligence, big data analysis, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. This technology and these investments have placed the GCC states in a leading position, enabling them to benefit from the global digital transformation process, focusing on developing innovative applications in the fields of renewable energy, healthcare, education, transportation and financial services.
The leaders stressed the need to boost cooperation among the GCC states to develop joint digital strategies that help in achieving digital integration among their economies, including facilitating e-commerce, developing digital payment systems, and supporting cybersecurity. They also called for accelerating work on establishing unified digital markets that boost regional economic integration.
The GCC states, thanks to their diverse resources and advanced human and technological capabilities, are increasingly contributing to supporting the global economy, they remarked. They stressed that the GCC states' digital initiatives are not limited to achieving national goals only, but extend to boosting innovation and global economic growth, consolidating the region's position as an influential digital economic force capable of facing future challenges and providing sustainable solutions.
