Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee Condemns Israeli Aggression in Gaza, Calls for Immediate Ceasefire and International Action
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
The Ministerial Committee formed by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza has strongly condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which have directly targeted densely populated civilian areas. These attacks have led to the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Palestinians, worsening the already dire humanitarian situation. The Committee denounced the raids as a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, international resolutions, and international humanitarian law, which only deepens the suffering of the Palestinian people and threatens to destabilize the region further.
In its statement, the Ministerial Committee emphasized that these actions violate United Nations resolutions, international treaties, and agreements, thereby intensifying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and increasing the potential for a wider regional conflict. These acts of aggression undermine all efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and achieving lasting peace in the region.
The Committee called on the international community to take immediate action to hold Israel accountable for its aggression. It urged global powers to exert pressure on Israel to cease its attacks, comply with international law, and protect Palestinian civilians. The Committee also demanded that Israeli authorities restore Gaza’s electricity supply without delay and ensure the opening of all border crossings to facilitate the continuous flow of humanitarian aid, which is desperately needed in light of the ongoing disaster.
The Ministerial Committee reaffirmed its commitment to a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate cessation of Israeli military escalation. It called for the resumption of dialogue and negotiations to ensure the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and ultimately put an end to the war, preventing a return to the cycle of violence that has plagued the region for so long.
Furthermore, the Committee reiterated its unwavering stance on achieving a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian people, based on the principles of the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative. It stressed the importance of fulfilling the legitimate rights of Palestinians, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with United Nations resolutions and international law.
The Committee, formed on November 11, 2023, includes the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Turkey, Indonesia, Nigeria, Palestine, along with the Secretary General of the Arab League and the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Committee’s strong stance underscores the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing violations of international law by the Israeli authorities.
