Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
The committee convened in Cairo with the European Union's foreign affairs representative to discuss the ongoing crisis and reconstruction plans for Gaza.
The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee convened in Cairo on Sunday, urging for the immediate resumption of ceasefire negotiations in Gaza and a return to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
The committee emphasized its rejection of forced displacement and called upon the international community to mobilize resources for a conference aimed at supporting the reconstruction of Gaza.
The meeting featured the participation of various foreign ministers, including Prince Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty of Egypt, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani of Qatar, Dr. Mohammed Mustafa of Palestine, Ayman Safadi of Jordan, Hakan Fidan of Turkey, Abdullatif Al-Zayani of Bahrain, Khalifa Shahin Al-Marri of the UAE, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, and Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, along with representatives from Indonesia and Nigeria.
The meeting specifically addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip and detailed the Arab-Islamic plan for reconstruction.
Participants expressed serious concern over the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza, which has resulted in substantial civilian casualties due to recent airstrikes.
They condemned the renewed hostilities and the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, calling for a return to full compliance with the ceasefire agreement, which initially took effect on January 19 under the auspices of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
In their statement, the participating parties highlighted the need to progress to the second phase of the agreement, ensuring the full release of hostages, the end of hostilities, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735. They urged full adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need for rapid and sustainable access to humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The committee called for the lifting of all restrictions that hinder humanitarian access and the swift restoration of essential services in Gaza, including electricity and water supply, particularly in desalination facilities.
The parties expressed support for the Arab recovery and reconstruction plan presented at the Cairo Summit on March 4, which was subsequently endorsed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and welcomed by the European Council.
They underscored that the plan aims to ensure the Palestinian population remains on their land, firmly rejecting any relocation or expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, while warning against the dire consequences such actions could incur.
The meeting underscored the importance of supporting the early recovery and reconstruction conference for Gaza, scheduled to be held in Cairo with the involvement of relevant stakeholders.
The committee called on the international community to work towards mobilizing resources to be announced during this conference to address the critical situation in Gaza.
They emphasized the necessity of uniting the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian National Authority and supporting the Authority in fulfilling its responsibilities effectively across both regions.
Acknowledgment was also given to the relevance of preserving the unity and integrity of the occupied Palestinian territories, framing it as essential for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, including Jerusalem, and adhering to UN resolutions and the two-state solution to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
Participants reiterated that Gaza remains an integral part of the occupied territories of 1967, reaffirming the vision of a two-state solution, wherein Gaza is included in the state of Palestine, per international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
They stressed the need to guide any discussions regarding the future of Gaza by these principles.
Concerns were voiced over the ongoing Israeli military incursions into the occupied West Bank, along with illegal actions such as settlement activities, home demolitions, and violence by settlers, which are seen as undermining the rights of the Palestinian people and threatening the prospects for achieving a just and lasting peace, exacerbating the conflict.
The attendees highlighted that Israel, as the occupying power, must protect civilians and comply with international humanitarian law.
They unequivocally rejected any attempts to annex land or any unilateral measures aimed at altering the legal and historical status of sacred sites in Jerusalem.
Commitment to a political resolution of the conflict based on a two-state solution was reiterated, envisioning Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, based on relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid framework, the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, paving the way for lasting peace and coexistence among all peoples in the region.
Moreover, the participants reiterated their commitment to convening a high-level international conference under the auspices of the United Nations next June in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, to advance these objectives.
The committee emphasized its rejection of forced displacement and called upon the international community to mobilize resources for a conference aimed at supporting the reconstruction of Gaza.
The meeting featured the participation of various foreign ministers, including Prince Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty of Egypt, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani of Qatar, Dr. Mohammed Mustafa of Palestine, Ayman Safadi of Jordan, Hakan Fidan of Turkey, Abdullatif Al-Zayani of Bahrain, Khalifa Shahin Al-Marri of the UAE, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, and Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, along with representatives from Indonesia and Nigeria.
The meeting specifically addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip and detailed the Arab-Islamic plan for reconstruction.
Participants expressed serious concern over the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza, which has resulted in substantial civilian casualties due to recent airstrikes.
They condemned the renewed hostilities and the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, calling for a return to full compliance with the ceasefire agreement, which initially took effect on January 19 under the auspices of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
In their statement, the participating parties highlighted the need to progress to the second phase of the agreement, ensuring the full release of hostages, the end of hostilities, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735. They urged full adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need for rapid and sustainable access to humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The committee called for the lifting of all restrictions that hinder humanitarian access and the swift restoration of essential services in Gaza, including electricity and water supply, particularly in desalination facilities.
The parties expressed support for the Arab recovery and reconstruction plan presented at the Cairo Summit on March 4, which was subsequently endorsed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and welcomed by the European Council.
They underscored that the plan aims to ensure the Palestinian population remains on their land, firmly rejecting any relocation or expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, while warning against the dire consequences such actions could incur.
The meeting underscored the importance of supporting the early recovery and reconstruction conference for Gaza, scheduled to be held in Cairo with the involvement of relevant stakeholders.
The committee called on the international community to work towards mobilizing resources to be announced during this conference to address the critical situation in Gaza.
They emphasized the necessity of uniting the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian National Authority and supporting the Authority in fulfilling its responsibilities effectively across both regions.
Acknowledgment was also given to the relevance of preserving the unity and integrity of the occupied Palestinian territories, framing it as essential for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, including Jerusalem, and adhering to UN resolutions and the two-state solution to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
Participants reiterated that Gaza remains an integral part of the occupied territories of 1967, reaffirming the vision of a two-state solution, wherein Gaza is included in the state of Palestine, per international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
They stressed the need to guide any discussions regarding the future of Gaza by these principles.
Concerns were voiced over the ongoing Israeli military incursions into the occupied West Bank, along with illegal actions such as settlement activities, home demolitions, and violence by settlers, which are seen as undermining the rights of the Palestinian people and threatening the prospects for achieving a just and lasting peace, exacerbating the conflict.
The attendees highlighted that Israel, as the occupying power, must protect civilians and comply with international humanitarian law.
They unequivocally rejected any attempts to annex land or any unilateral measures aimed at altering the legal and historical status of sacred sites in Jerusalem.
Commitment to a political resolution of the conflict based on a two-state solution was reiterated, envisioning Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, based on relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid framework, the principle of land for peace, and the Arab Peace Initiative, paving the way for lasting peace and coexistence among all peoples in the region.
Moreover, the participants reiterated their commitment to convening a high-level international conference under the auspices of the United Nations next June in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, to advance these objectives.