Washington, Dec 9, 2023, Members of the Ministerial Committee, designated by the Riyadh-hosted Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit and led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, held a press briefing in Washington for representatives of international media outlets today.
The news conference included key figures such as Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ayman Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyadh Al-Malki, and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan.
During the briefing, members of the committee emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding innocent civilians from the actions of the Israeli occupation forces. They stated that any discussions about the future of Gaza and the Palestinian issue should follow the ceasefire and the cessation of the ongoing military escalation.
The diplomats expressed concern about the international community's hesitancy to enforce a ceasefire and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing that delays could lead to increased casualties and worsen the already dire humanitarian situation. The committee called on the international community, especially the permanent members of the Security Council, to take immediate and decisive steps to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian, food, and medical aid to Gaza. They firmly rejected any restrictions on the entry of relief aid into the strip.
Highlighting the importance of a ceasefire as the top priority for Arab and Islamic states, the committee stressed that it should also be a priority for the international community. Additionally, they underscored the urgent need for a genuine and trustworthy roadmap to establish a Palestinian state in accordance with international resolutions. The press briefing served as a platform for these top diplomats to convey the critical nature of the situation and call for swift, meaningful actions to address the ongoing crisis.
