Madrid: Members of the Ministerial Committee Assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Developments in Gaza convened an expanded meeting in Madrid, Spain. The session was led by Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, and attended by prominent figures including Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi, Egypt's Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, and Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Nuh Yilmaz, along with representatives from the Madrid Group and various European countries.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the meeting concentrated on the evolving situation in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, while also addressing international efforts aimed at ending the conflict and mitigating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Discussions included plans for an upcoming high-level international conference on peacefully resolving the Palestinian issue and implementing the two-state solution, scheduled for June at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. This conference will be jointly chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.
The committee members highlighted the necessity of collaborative efforts to ensure the success of the international conference, emphasizing the need for explicit commitments and significant political, economic, and security support.
They reaffirmed the importance of the two-state solution based on established international resolutions, advocating for the Palestinian people's right to an independent state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The committee acknowledged the support from the Madrid Group and European nations in working towards a just and lasting peace.
The members expressed optimism for the success of mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States to secure the release of hostages. They stressed the urgent need to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip, ensure the immediate and unconditional opening of all crossings, and maintain a steady flow of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid to address the population's needs.
The Ministerial Committee members reiterated their condemnation of the Israeli occupation authorities' repeated violations against civilians in the Gaza Strip. They stressed the importance of addressing all Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law.
The committee also voiced their support for early recovery efforts and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in line with the Arab Reconstruction Plan approved at the Extraordinary Arab Summit in Cairo. They expressed support for the international conference that Egypt plans to host in Cairo, in collaboration with the Palestinian government and the United Nations, focused on reconstructing the Gaza Strip.
The committee members commended the Palestinian government's reforms and reaffirmed their unwavering support for efforts that advance the interests, aspirations, security, stability, and prosperity of the Palestinian people.