Members of the ministerial committee tasked by the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, headed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, held a discussion session at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. on Friday to discuss the developments in the Gaza Strip. The session was attended by Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
The ministerial committee reiterated its calls to the international community, especially the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to take concrete action to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and to save civilians from the deepening humanitarian crisis, which will have a negative impact on international peace and security.
Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah said that the military operations and escalation in Gaza are unjustified and violate all international laws and humanitarian law. He called for an immediate ceasefire, noting that the aid that has been delivered to Gaza is not enough given the scale of the crisis in the Strip. He called on the international community to provide safe passage for the immediate entry of additional medical, food, and other humanitarian aid.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani stressed the importance of halting the military escalation and focusing on a ceasefire at this time. He called for urgent action and for making a ceasefire the top priority in this difficult and critical phase for the Palestinian people in Gaza. He also affirmed that Qatar will continue to coordinate with all partners for more prisoner exchanges.
Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that the war in Gaza will not bring security to Israel, but that only a just and comprehensive peace and a solution to the Palestinian issue based on international legitimacy can achieve that.
He pointed out that the United States should lead a major step that would resolve this conflict, with a clear end point and specific mechanisms and timelines for achieving a two-state solution. He said that everyone must work to ensure the success of this effort, as it is the only way to achieve security for both Israelis and Palestinians and provide the environment for peace that the region needs.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed that the Rafah crossing has never been closed and has never been a point of siege for Palestinians. He stressed the importance of urgent action to provide humanitarian assistance to prevent the humanitarian situation from collapsing.
