Arab, Islamic ministers, EU urge full ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Migration hosted a meeting on Sunday for the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza with the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

In a joint communique, the parties condemned the resumption of hostilities and the targeting of civilians and civil infrastructure. They called for the immediate and full implementation of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19 under the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. The communique emphasised the need to progress to the second phase of the cease fire agreement, which includes the release of all hostages, a permanent cessation of hostilities, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2735.

The parties also urged full respect for international humanitarian and international law, stressing the need for the swift, sustainable, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Arab Reconstruction plan

Additionally, they welcomed the Arab recovery and reconstruction plan presented at the Arab League Extraordinary Summit that was held in Cairo on March 4, later adopted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and welcomed by the European Council. The statement underscored that the plan ensures the Palestinian people remain on their land and firmly rejected any forced displacement from Gaza or the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, warning of severe consequences.

The ministers reaffirmed the importance of unifying Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority (PA) and supporting the PA in assuming its full responsibilities in Gaza. They stressed the need to preserve the unity and integrity of the occupied Palestinian territories as a fundamental step toward establishing a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, including Jerusalem, in accordance with UN resolutions and the two-state solution.

Arab Peace Initiative

Reaffirming their commitment to a political resolution based on the two-state solution, the parties called for Israel and Palestine to coexist in peace and security, following UN resolutions, the Madrid framework—including the land-for-peace principle—and the Arab Peace Initiative. They also reiterated their commitment to holding a high-level international conference in June in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia under UN auspices, to advance these objectives.

The meeting was attended by Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Mustafa, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha, and representatives from Indonesia and Nigeria.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: M. S. Salama