Part of The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee meeting attended by the foreign ministers and European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs on Gaza in Cairo, Egypt. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Facebook page.
According to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the members of the committee rejected Israel's renewed hostilities in Gaza and attacks on civilians, emphasising the need to uphold the ceasefire agreement. They also fully supported the Arab plan for Gaza's reconstruction.
The meeting brought together the foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. It also included the Secretaries-General of the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and representatives from Indonesia and Nigeria.
During the discussions, the participants voiced deep concern over the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza and the high number of civilian casualties resulting from recent Israeli airstrikes.
They called for the immediate and full implementation of the ceasefire and captive-prisoner swap agreement between Hamas and Israel, which took effect on 19 January.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the participants stressed the importance of progressing to the second phase of the agreement to ensure "its full implementation, including the release of all hostages, a permanent cessation of hostilities, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza," under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735.
Furthermore, they called for fully respecting international humanitarian law, emphasising the need for unrestricted humanitarian access and large-scale aid delivery across Gaza.
They urged the removal of all barriers to aid and immediate restoration of essential services, including electricity and water desalination.
According to the joint statement, the participants reaffirmed that the Arab plan ensures that the Palestinian people remain on their land. They categorically rejected any displacement from Gaza, the West Bank, or East Jerusalem, warning of serious consequences.
The participants also highlighted the importance of the upcoming conference on the Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza in Cairo, urging the international community to mobilise resources to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
They emphasised the need to unify Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority (PA) and support its full governance over both territories.
In addition, the participants reaffirmed the importance of preserving the territorial integrity of the occupied Palestinian territories based on the 4 June 1967 lines, including Jerusalem, under UN resolutions and the two-state solution.
They reiterated that Gaza is an integral part of the 1967-occupied territory and stressed that any discussions on its future must align with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions to ensure lasting peace and stability.
The participants also voiced deep concern over Israeli military incursions in the occupied West Bank. They condemned illegal practices such as settlement expansion, home demolitions, and settler violence, which undermine Palestinian rights and hinder prospects for a just peace.
In their joint statement, the participants further reminded Israel of its obligations as an occupying power to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law.
Additionally, they firmly rejected annexation attempts and unilateral actions that sought to alter the legal and historical status quo of Jerusalem's Holy Sites.
In conclusion, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution, ensuring Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace and security based on UN resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, and the Arab Peace Initiative.
They also supported the June UN High-Level International Conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, to advance these efforts.
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