Moscow, November 21, 2023,The Ministerial Committee, appointed by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit and led by His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, convened an official meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, on November 21, 2023, at the Russian Guest Palace.
The Ministerial Committee members included His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, Ayman Al-Safadi; His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Mr. Sameh Shoukry; His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine, Riad Malki; Her Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Ms. Retno Marsudi; and His Excellency the Secretary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hussein Ibrahim Taha.
In his opening remarks, the Russian Foreign Minister commended the efforts of the Ministerial Committee towards establishing a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Sergey Lavrov affirmed Russia's support for immediate ceasefire initiatives aligned with UN resolutions, decisions of the Security Council, and outcomes of the peace summits in Cairo and Riyadh.
Lavrov condemned the collective punishment of civilians in Gaza, labeling it as clear violations of international humanitarian law. He stressed the necessity of halting all breaches of international laws and humanitarian standards while emphasizing the urgency of providing more humanitarian aid to Gaza to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
The Russian Foreign Minister expressed his country's backing for creating conditions conducive to launching a comprehensive peace process, in line with relevant UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab Initiative, with the goal of achieving a two-state solution.
Subsequently, the Ministerial Committee members underscored the need for effective and immediate measures by the Security Council and the international community to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, deeming it a priority for all Arab and Islamic nations.
The Committee emphasized the urgency of lifting the siege on Gaza, releasing prisoners, and restarting a just peace process with the support of international legitimacy authorities. They called on the international community to reject selectivity in applying legal and moral standards, urging accountability for the Israeli occupation forces' crimes against Palestinian civilians.
Highlighting Israel's ongoing violations of international law and resolutions, the Committee stressed the importance of allowing the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Deprivation of basic necessities in Gaza was condemned as a violation of international humanitarian law and a transgression against fundamental human values and principles, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention.
