Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the recent Israeli military operation in the West Bank, which resulted in over 11 Palestinian deaths and a blockade on major cities, calling it a deliberate attempt to subjugate the Palestinian people and undermine signed agreements.
Aboul Gheit described the Israeli actions as part of a broader strategy to make Palestinian life unbearable and to advance a displacement agenda, warning that this could lead to a wider regional conflict if not addressed by the international community.
He criticized the United States for failing to apply adequate pressure on Israel to end its aggressive actions, urging the U.S. to take a stronger stance against the escalation in the West Bank.
Cairo, August 29, 2024 – The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has issued a stern condemnation of the recent military operation conducted by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank. This operation has resulted in the deaths of over 11 Palestinians and has seen the imposition of a sweeping blockade on major cities and large areas throughout the region.
In a forceful statement, Aboul Gheit described the military actions as "brutal incursions and attacks," criticizing what he characterized as a deliberate strategy by the Israeli occupation to subdue the Palestinian population. He highlighted the destruction of infrastructure and the siege of hospitals in the northern West Bank as indicative of a "dangerous trend" aimed at undermining the Palestinians. According to Aboul Gheit, these actions are designed to "overturn the remnants of signed agreements" and to reassert control over Palestinian lands, aligning with the agenda of Israel's extreme right-wing factions.
Aboul Gheit further asserted that the Israeli occupation is engaging in what he termed a "war of extermination" against Palestinians, both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that the latest military actions in the West Bank are unrelated to the October 7 attacks. Instead, he argued, these operations are intended to make Palestinian life untenable, using tactics of intimidation, violence, and bloodshed to further displacement and suppress the Palestinian cause.
He called upon the international community to act decisively in response to this escalation, warning that continued inaction could lead to a broader regional conflict. "The world cannot remain idle in the face of this escalation," he stressed, noting that such actions by the Israeli forces are "deliberately pushing the region to the brink of the abyss." Aboul Gheit expressed concern that these developments could open new fronts and ignite widespread conflict, potentially drawing the entire region into a dangerous escalation.
Moreover, Aboul Gheit criticized the United States for its perceived failure to exert meaningful pressure on Israel. He accused the U.S. of capitulating to Israeli tactics and the delaying strategies of its leaders, without demonstrating a genuine intent to reach a peaceful resolution that could halt the aggressive actions in Gaza and prevent a wider escalation. He called on the U.S. to adopt a clear and firm stance regarding the latest Israeli military operations in the West Bank, urging Washington to reconsider its approach in light of the escalating violence.
Through his remarks, Aboul Gheit underscored the urgency of international intervention to prevent further deterioration of the situation, stressing that the current path threatens not just Palestinian lives but also the stability of the entire region.