On the sidelines of his participation in the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Uganda, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Palestine, Tunisia, Yemen, Azerbaijan, and Chad.
In his meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki, Attaf discussed the latest developments in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, as mentioned in a statement by the ministry. The two sides agreed on “strengthening coordination to intensify diplomatic pressure on the Security Council in order to make it undertake its responsibilities to impose a ceasefire and provide international protection for the Palestinians.”
The bilateral discussions with his Yemeni counterpart, Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, were devoted to discussing the developments in the crisis in Yemen. Minister Attaf and Bin Mubarak talked about “the ways Algeria, from its position in the Security Council, can contribute to supporting the political process sponsored by the United Nations, based on the decisions of international legitimacy.”
Algeria was elected in June last year in a secret ballot by the United Nations General Assembly as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the years 2024 and 2025, after receiving 184 votes out of 192. Algeria has previously held a non-permanent membership in the Security Council on three occasions, in the periods 1968-1969, 1988-1989, and 2004-2005.
The recent Israeli aggression against Gaza has been marked by a series of intense and deadly incidents. Israeli air raids have continued unabated, with significant civilian casualties reported, including women and children. The recent surge in violence marks the continuation of hostilities that have occurred periodically since Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
One of the most significant incidents was an Israeli air strike on a family home in Gaza City’s al-Sahaba Street, which resulted in the deaths of 12 members of the Hijazi family and four of their neighbors, including three children. Amnesty International’s research found no evidence of military targets in the area at the time of the attack, raising concerns about the indiscriminate nature of the attack and potential war crimes.
The Israeli military has conducted operations in response to what it claims are threats from Hamas, the militant Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2006. However, these operations have often resulted in high civilian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings. The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on the Palestinian population in Gaza, leading to significant loss of life and injuries.
The international community, including the United Nations and various human rights organizations, has expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the disproportionate use of force by Israel. Despite these concerns, there has been limited progress in resolving the conflict, with deep divisions remaining between the Israeli government and Palestinian groups.
The conflict has broader implications for the Middle East and North Africa region, affecting economic activity and posing challenges for international efforts to maintain peace and stability. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with urgent calls for a ceasefire and the need to address the humanitarian crisis and the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
