Minister of Foreign Affairs attends GCC Ministerial Council meeting
Muscat, Oct. 17 (BNA): Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Ministerial Council meeting to discuss the Gaza Strip situation which the Sultanate of Oman called for.
The meeting was chaired by Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Oman’s Minister of Foreign.
Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC was present.
The Ministerial Council expressed gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said for receiving GCC Foreign Ministers and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, where His Majesty spoke on his vision for security, stability, and prosperity.
The ministerial council discussed the escalating violence and illegal bombardment of the Gaza Strip, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths and injuries.
They also discussed Israel's intentions to invade and displace the civilian population, highlighting the pressing and dangerous challenges facing the region.
The ministerial council called for an immediate ceasefire and end of Israeli military operations in Gaza, ensuring humanitarian aid, resuming electricity and water lines, and allowing entry of fuel, food, and medicine for Gaza residents.
The ministerial council also affirmed its support for the Palestinian people's steadfastness on their land and cautioned against any attempts to displace them.
The council urged all conflict parties to protect civilians, avoid targeting them, and comply with international law and humanitarian law. It called for the release of hostages and innocent detainees, and international protection for the Palestinian people.
The ministerial council announced launching an urgent humanitarian relief operation for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, providing $100 million in aid and emphasising the urgent delivery of this aid, affirming its intention to assist the Palestinian people.
The council affirmed its support for the initiative of Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the Arab League to revive the Middle East peace process in collaboration with Egypt and Jordan.
The ministerial council affirmed its commitment to its firm stance on ending the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories. It also reiterated the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people, and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law, the Arab Peace Initiative, and relevant resolutions of the Security Council and United Nations General Assembly.
It stressed on the responsibility of the international community to address the Palestinian cause without double standards.
The council urged the UN Security Council to implement its former resolutions on the Arab-Israeli conflict and to adopt a resolution ensuring Israel's compliance with international law and the UN Charter, and rejecting any Israeli plans to invade Gaza or the Palestinian Territories, or displacing the Palestinians.
