Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Delivers Speech at UN Security Council Open Debate on Situation in Middle East

New York, January 24, 2024, SPA -- Deputizing for Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed El-Khereiji participated today here in the UN Security Council's open debate on “The Situation in the Middle East’’.
Delivering a speech, El-Khereiji said that the situation is worsening and tensions are escalating in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, and stressed that the indiscriminate bombing by the Israeli war machine leads to an increasing number of casualties.
El-Khereiji called for immediate action to end the tragedy in Gaza and urged concrete steps to halt the killing of unarmed civilians there.
He emphasized that this war is widely recognized, and its consequences are a shared responsibility.
He also stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had warned about the danger of the conflict expanding and affecting regional and international security, and that alleviating human suffering and ending military operations in Palestine are the Kingdom's top priorities.
El-Khereiji expressed concern about the military operations in the Red Sea region and the Republic of Yemen.
He stressed the need to take measures to contain the repercussions of the crisis on neighboring countries and international peace and security, and to achieve a just and lasting solution.
Rejecting the self-defense excuse, El-Khereiji said that the forced displacement of the population of Gaza is unacceptable, and condemned the disregard for Palestinian lives, and the recurring violence against them with no prospect of positive change in the near future.
El-Khereiji underscored the Kingdom's commitment to seeking and promoting peace in the region, and its efforts to bring about peace and security.
Saudi Arabia, he said, strongly condemns violations of international and humanitarian law by any party, and asks the council to take a firm stance and force Israeli occupation forces to respect international law and end the suffering of the Palestinians, as well as to establish an independent Palestinian state that safeguards the rights and dignity of its people.
--SPA