Manama: The Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Developments in Gaza has strongly condemned the Israeli occupation forces' airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and the direct bombardment of civilian-populated areas, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Palestinians.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the committee emphasized that these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement, United Nations resolutions, international treaties, and international humanitarian law. The statement warned that the ongoing escalation is exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, posing a serious threat to regional security and stability, and increasing the risk of a broader conflict that undermines efforts to de-escalate tensions.
The committee reiterated its call on the international community to assume its moral and legal responsibilities and take immediate action to pressure Israel, the occupying power, to halt its aggression and violations, comply with UN resolutions and international law, and protect Palestinian civilians. The statement also demanded that Israel be obligated to restore electricity supplies to Gaza and open all crossings to ensure the continuous and expanded entry of humanitarian aid, as the enclave faces an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.
The statement further underscored the urgent need for a permanent and sustainable ceasefire, an end to Israeli military escalation, and the resumption of dialogue and negotiations to implement all phases of the ceasefire agreement. The committee emphasized that these measures are essential to ending the war on Gaza and preventing a renewed cycle of violence.
The committee stressed the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian cause within the framework of the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative, by UN resolutions, international law, and agreed-upon frameworks. It reiterated the necessity of safeguarding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish an independent state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Ministerial Committee, formed on November 11, 2023, includes the foreign ministers of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Trkiye, the Republic of Indonesia, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the State of Palestine. The Secretary General of the Arab League and the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation are also members.