Madrid, September 14, 2024 — On Friday, September 13, 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with members of the ministerial committee established by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit. The committee, chaired by Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, included prominent figures such as Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine; Ayman Al-Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan; Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration; Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States; Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; and Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, the committee members emphasized the critical need to advance the recognition of the Palestinian state to secure the rights of the Palestinian people and to foster regional and global peace amid ongoing extremism and violations of international law. They discussed the urgency of implementing the two-state solution, advocating for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and other international proposals.
The committee also addressed the necessity for the Israeli military to withdraw from Palestinian-controlled areas such as the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor, and to restore full control to the Palestinian Authority. Furthermore, they deliberated on halting Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the rising tensions in the West Bank. The members called for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of adequate, sustainable humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Additionally, the committee stressed the need to curb Israeli settlement expansion and activate international accountability mechanisms to address violations of international and humanitarian law, aiming to achieve a just and comprehensive peace that upholds Palestinian rights and ensures regional security. The meeting was also attended by foreign ministers and representatives from Norway, Slovenia, Ireland, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.