The resolution urges all parties to show restraint, condemns targeting of civilians on both sides, emphasises vital need to safeguard civilians….reports Asian Lite News
Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
In the final communique of an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers held in Cairo, the top Arab diplomats urged all parties to exercise self-restraint and warned of “the catastrophic humanitarian and security repercussions” of further escalation.
The session discussed ways of political action at the Arab and international levels to halt attacks on the Occupied Palestinian Territories following the recent unprecedented escalation in the Gaza Strip.
They emphasized the necessity of lifting the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip and immediately providing humanitarian aid, food, and fuel to Gazans.
The meeting was held on the fifth day of the deadly conflict that erupted between the Hamas militant group, which controls Gaza, and Israel. The conflict has left more than 2,000 people killed and thousands more injured on both sides.
The Arab foreign ministers condemned the killing of civilians on both sides, whether they were Palestinians or Israelis.
They also stressed the necessity of releasing relevant civilian hostages, detainees, and prisoners.
They said they will work with the international community for an urgent and active action to achieve de-escalation, according to the communique.
Participants of the meeting urged the Arab states and the rest of the international community to provide sufficient financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at such a critical time.
“The way to guarantee security and stability in the region is to achieve just, permanent, and comprehensive peace that meets all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” the Arab foreign ministers underlined.
UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar headed the Emirati delegation in the meeting.
AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said earlier during the opening session that the current crisis was created by the long-time “clogged political horizon” and the continuous construction of Israeli settlements, which limited the chances for peace through the internationally recognized two-state solution.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki emphasized the need to re-establish the political framework for resolving the conflict. He advocated for the revival of the peace process through a genuine political negotiation between the two sides, saying negotiation is the right way to attain security, stability, and prosperity in the region.
The extraordinary AL ministerial meeting was chaired by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who urged international parties “to sponsor real consultations to revive the peace process.”
He called on the international community to develop “a roadmap with practical goals, including a timetable” for serious and purposeful negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis in order to agree on a final formula for resolving the Palestinian issue.
Arab Parliament Meeting
The Arab Parliament’s Palestine Committee convened on Thursday a meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo to discuss the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, calling for international protection of the Palestinian people in all occupied territories.
The current serious escalation “could slide the region into a circle of mutual violence and lead to the fall of more victims,” Speaker of the Arab Parliament and head of the Palestine Committee Adel Al Asoomi said during the meeting.
“We call for providing international protection for the Palestinian people who have hundreds of dead and injured in the ongoing conflict,” the Arab Parliament chief added.
The meeting came on the sixth day of the deadly conflict between the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the ruling faction of the Gaza Strip, and Israel.
Affiliated with the Cairo-based Arab League (AL), the Arab Parliament emphasized its firm position in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their own independent state in accordance with the internationally recognized two-state solution.
MBZ, Erdogan Discuss Peace Efforts
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, held a phone call yesterday to discuss efforts to contain escalation in the region and prioritise the protection of civilians.
They also discussed intensifying efforts to open safe corridors to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid in light of increasing violence and escalation, which threaten regional security and stability.
The leaders underscored the urgent need for regional and international action to promptly halt escalating tensions and stressed the significance of expanding prospects for inclusive and equitable peace, safeguarding the Middle East’s stability and security, and averting additional crises.
During the call, His Highness and the Turkish President also addressed ways to bolster bilateral cooperation and the strategic partnership that binds the two countries, noting their determination to explore opportunities to deepen ties in various fields.
ALSO READ: Hamas Vows Payback If Israel Enters Gaza On Foot
[soliloquy id="151345"]