Today, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated in an emergency session of the UN Security Council, discussing the situation in the Middle East, with a specific focus on the Palestinian cause. The invitation to attend the session came from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi. In his address, Prince Faisal highlighted the dire circumstances in Gaza, noting that since the last session, the death toll has surpassed 14,000, with 67% being women and children. Over half a million people have been displaced due to the escalating military actions by Israeli forces, violating international charters and resolutions. The Minister emphasized the absence of international accountability mechanisms and called for immediate action. Prince Faisal referenced the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit hosted by the Kingdom on November 11, 2023, as a response to the crisis. The summit's resolutions reflect the unified will of Arab and Islamic nations to end bloodshed, provide relief assistance, halt violations, and support the Palestinian people in realizing their legitimate rights. The Saudi Foreign Minister advocated for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, emphasizing the need for countries seeking peace and justice to add their voices to this cause. He welcomed the humanitarian truce in Gaza but stressed the necessity for unobstructed and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid, urging the implementation of Security Council Resolution No. 2712 for a comprehensive ceasefire. Prince Faisal condemned the Israeli military escalation after the truce and insisted on Israel's responsibilities under international law. He emphasized that the truce does not absolve Israel of its duties, and baseless pretexts for self-defense are unacceptable. In his concluding remarks, Prince Faisal called for international recognition, under a Security Council resolution, of the independent state of Palestine and its full UN membership. He renewed the call for an international peace conference under UN auspices to launch a credible peace process based on the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions.
