At The Initiative Of Iraq, A Joint Statement Issued By FMs Of 31 Countries Regarding The So-Called "Greater Israel"

Baghdad / NINA /-Foreign ministers of 31 Arab and Islamic countries, along with the Secretaries-General of the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemned statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the so-called “Greater Israel,” describing them as a violation of international law and a threat to Arab national security and regional stability. The joint statement was issued at the initiative of Iraq, chair of the 34th Arab Summit.

The ministers rejected these remarks as well as settlement plans in the “E1” area, and the positions of extremist Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state, considering them an assault on the rights of the Palestinian people and a blatant breach of UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2334.

They warned against Israeli annexation policies, assaults on Islamic and Christian holy sites, and forced displacement in the occupied territories, stressing that such practices undermine prospects for a just peace.

On the humanitarian front, the statement condemned Israel’s crimes in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, lifting of the blockade, and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid. It also rejected any attempts to displace Palestinians, reaffirmed the need for Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip, and called for the implementation of the joint Arab–Islamic reconstruction plan.

The ministers reiterated that Gaza is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories and emphasized the need to empower the State of Palestine to govern both the West Bank and Gaza. They urged the international community, especially the UN Security Council and the United States, to assume their legal and moral responsibilities to end the aggression, protect the Palestinian people, and hold perpetrators of crimes accountable./ End