Cairo: The emergency meeting of the Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee denounced the resumed hostilities by the Israeli occupation forces against the Gaza Strip, urging an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
According to Kuwait News Agency, a joint statement by the committee members and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in Cairo, stated that they discussed the recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The parties expressed their grave concern over the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza and the large number of civilian casualties in recent airstrikes. They condemned the resumption of hostilities and the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, calling for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage and detainees release agreement. This agreement, effective since January 19th and brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, stresses the need for progress towards its second phase with a view to its full implementation, including the release of all hostages, a permanent end to hostilities, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, in accordance with United Nations Security Council R esolution 2735.
The parties further called for the complete respect of international humanitarian law and international law, including ensuring swift, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access and the provision of humanitarian assistance across the entire Gaza Strip. They demanded the lifting of all restrictions hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid and the immediate restoration of all basic services in the Strip, including electricity supply for water desalination plants.
The statement highlighted the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan presented at the Cairo Summit on March 4, subsequently adopted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and welcomed by the European Council. The plan ensures that the Palestinian people will remain on their territory, and the parties emphasized their categorical rejection of any displacement or expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. They warned against the repercussions of such actions and underscored the importance of supporting the Conference on the Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza, to be held in Cairo with relevant stakeholders. The parties called on the international community to mobilize resources during the Conference to address the catastrophic situation in Gaza.
The parties stressed the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority (PA) and supporting the PA in assuming its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip. They emphasized the need for respect and preservation of the territorial integrity and unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is key to consolidating the Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 lines, including Jerusalem, in line with UN resolutions as part of the two-state solution for long-term peace and stability in the region.
The parties expressed deep concern over the Israeli military incursions in the occupied West Bank and illegal practices such as settlement activities and home demolitions, which undermine the rights of the Palestinian people and threaten the prospects for a just and lasting peace. They rejected attempts at annexation and unilateral measures that seek to alter the legal and historical status quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem.
Together, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to a political resolution to the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. They endorsed the convening of a UN High-Level International Conference in June in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, to advance these goals.
The meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman, Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Additional attendees included Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa Shahin, Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmad Abul-Gheit, and Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Taha.