This came during a joint press conference held by Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who presided over the 163rd session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, after the session.
Aboul Gheit explained that the League is exerting political and media efforts to urge the international community to take action and stop the war, emphasising that there has been an unjustified international silence regarding the events.
He stated, "It is strange how some preach values while turning a blind eye to what is happening in Gaza, as if those being killed there are of no worth." He added, "We must expose the truth. When a civilian is injured in a conflict on European soil, the world rises in protest over the loss of a leg or an arm. Meanwhile, in Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinian youth, children, women, and elderly people have been killed or wounded, and the humanitarian toll is staggering."
He emphasised that revealing the facts is essential in exposing the reality to the international community, stressing that the situation in Gaza violates the basic principles of international humanitarian law and must be addressed accordingly.
He continued, "I see a failure on the part of the international community to uncover the truth. There must be a powerful outcry to bring this situation to an end—just as the late Pope Francis did in the final hours before his death, when he called for a ceasefire and for the Palestinian people to be granted their right to live on their land."
Aboul Gheit also highlighted the significance of the international conference on the recognition of the Palestinian state, which will take place in New York next June and be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.
He explained that the conference aims to expand international recognition of the Palestinian state, noting that at least 140 countries currently recognise it. The objective, he said, is to advance that recognition and reaffirm the international community's support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
He added, "Perhaps the outcome of this conference will be a decision to approach the UN Security Council, in hopes of issuing an official international resolution recognising the Palestinian state."
He also stated that the conference seeks to encourage more European countries to grant recognition and send a clear message to the United States that the international community's will is unmistakable, with 160 to 170 countries already recognising the State of Palestine.
Safadi: Gaza crisis and Arab unity take centre stage
For his part, Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, confirmed that the ministerial session addressed all major issues concerning the Arab region, foremost among them the Palestinian cause and efforts to halt the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
He noted that the meetings concluded with consensus on all draft resolutions, which tackled every issue raised, including matters relating to the Palestinian cause—a central concern for the Arab League—support for reconstruction in Syria, efforts to resolve the ongoing crises in Libya, Sudan, and Yemen, and support for Lebanon as it enters a new phase.
Safadi also noted that this session coincided with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Arab League, which was born out of a strong belief in the importance of joint Arab action and its role in serving Arab causes and meeting the aspirations of Arab peoples.
He emphasised the need to continue strengthening cooperation and firmly rejecting Israeli violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, reaffirming that Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state and must be realised as a free, independent, and sovereign city on Palestinian national soil—an essential step toward a just and comprehensive peace.
He stressed the importance of preserving Jerusalem's historical and legal status, continuing: "We in Jordan, under the Hashemite custodianship of the holy sites, have spared no effort—and will spare no effort—in defending these sacred places and safeguarding their Arab, Islamic, and Christian identity."
Safadi concluded by saying, "We are meeting at a critical time, as the Israeli aggression on Gaza continues." He underlined the need for Israel, as the occupying power, to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and remove all barriers to the delivery of essential supplies.
He added, "There are voices around the world calling for justice. Today, European countries have affirmed that the use of food as a weapon is a blatant violation of international law—and a crime that must be stopped."
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