Deputizing for HRH Crown Prince, Minister of Foreign Affairs Heads Saudi Arabia’s Delegation to Cairo Peace Summit

Cairo, October 21, 2023, SPA -- Deputizing for HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah led the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's delegation to the "Cairo Peace Summit" today. The summit aimed to discuss the conflict in Gaza, its surrounding areas, and the future of the Palestinian cause.
During the summit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech expressing gratitude to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian government for their efforts in enhancing regional and international coordination and consultation. These efforts were focused on addressing the alarming developments taking place in the Gaza Strip.
He said: “The tragic events taking place in Palestine require us to take urgent action to put an immediate end to military operations, provide protection for civilians, and release hostages and prisoners, in compliance with international norms and laws, and common humanitarian principles,” stressing the importance of finding a peaceful solution to this crisis that will spare the region the cycle of violence, saves lives, and establishes a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace.
He reiterated the Kingdom's unequivocal rejection of violations of international humanitarian law, regardless of the party or pretext. The Minister expressed the Kingdom's strong condemnation of the targeting of civilians, no matter of their location. He called on the international community to take decisive action by urging Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law.
The Minister said: “We reject the duplicity and selectivity practiced by some in the international community. Here, words are not enough. Rather, there must be serious action. We call on the international community to put pressure on the Israeli side to lift the siege and stop the military operations, which have claimed the lives of innocent people and threaten undesirable consequences for regional and international security and stability. We also affirm our categorical rejection of attempts to displace Palestinians by Israel forcibly.”
He expressed disappointment in the UN Security Council's lack of action regarding the current crisis, emphasizing the immediate need for the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors. These corridors would allow for the evacuation of the injured and the unimpeded delivery of relief aid and medical equipment to alleviate the humanitarian disaster and prevent its further escalation.
The Minister underscored the Kingdom's commitment to peace as a strategic option, standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their quest to regain their legitimate rights and establish an independent and sovereign state on the Palestinian territories based on the 1967 borders, as mandated by international legitimacy resolutions.
He reiterated the Kingdom's dedication to consult and cooperate with its international partners since the onset of this crisis. He expressed hope that the summit would encourage swift and decisive action by the international community to find a solution that would bring an end to the crisis, alleviate the suffering, and pave the way for substantial dialogue on the future of the Palestinian issue. Additionally, he emphasized the significance of international support for a just and enduring peace in the region that promotes security and prosperity for all. The Minister assured that the Kingdom will continue its collaborative efforts with all relevant partners to achieve this objective.
“The Kingdom’s highest priority is to immediately stop the military escalation, to stop the bloodshed, and to provide relief to those affected, to create the appropriate conditions for working towards peace,” the Minister concluded.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, Dr. Saud Al-Sati, and the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Egypt, Osama Naqli, also joined the kingdom’s delegation to the summit.
—SPA