Muscat, The Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) held its 43rd extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, October 17 in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, chaired by Foreign Minister of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, with the participation of Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the minister of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other foreign ministers of GCC member states.
The GCC Ministerial Council opened its deliberations by expressing appreciation and gratitude for His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tareq, the Sultan of Oman, for the gracious audience His Majesty granted to the foreign ministers of GCC member states and GCC Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, where they listened to His Majesty’s vision regarding current conditions and his wise and astute instructions toward the good and mutual benefit for all, and for strengthening the foundations of security, stability and prosperity.
The Ministerial Council discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories amid the escalation of violence and illegal bombing of residential areas in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in the death and injury of thousand of innocent civilians. The Ministers discussed Israel's intentions to invade the Gaza Strip and displace the civilian population, as well as the urgent and serious challenges facing the region as a result of these events. The Ministerial Council agreed on the following:
1. The Council urgently demanded an immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its illegal blockade to ensure access for humanitarian aid, relief supplies, and other basic necessities, as well as the restoration of electricity, water, and allowing the delivery of fuel, food, and medicine to the people of Gaza.
2. The Council stressed its support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in their homeland and warned against any attempts to displace or transfer them.
3. The Council called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, refrain from targeting them, and abide by and implement international law and international humanitarian law in every respect without exception. It called for the release of innocent hostages and detainees, especially women, children, the sick, and elderly. The Council called for providing international protection for the Palestinian people.
4. The Council reaffirmed its resolve to activate an urgent humanitarian aid operation to help meet the needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza. It announced immediate financial contributions of $100 million for this relief operation. I t stressed the need for this aid to reach Gaza urgently.
5. The Council reaffirmed its support for the initiative of Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the League of Arab States to revive the Middle East peace process in cooperation with Egypt and Jordan.
6. The Council reaffirmed its position on ending Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories, affirming the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and their right to establish an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law, the Arab Peace Initiative, and all relevant UN Security Council and UN General Assembly resolutions, stressing the responsibility of the international community to deal with the Palestinian issue without double standards.
7. The Council reiterated its position of urging the international community to take necessary measures, within the boundaries of international law, in response to the Israeli government's illegal actions, including its policy of collective punishment it inflicts on the civilian population of Gaza and other parts of the Palestinian Territories.
The Council concluded its meeting by urging the United Nations Security Council to implement its previous resolutions concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict, adopt a new resolution to ensure Israel's compliance with international law and the United Nations Charter, and reject any Israeli plans or intentions to invade Gaza or other Palestinian Territories or displace their Palestinian populations.
Source: Saudi Press Agency