Cairo, March 23 (Petra) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs Ayman Safadi participated on Sunday in a meeting of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. The meeting, hosted by Egypt, included the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, Turkey, and Indonesia, along with the UAE’s Minister of State, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, and the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The following joint statement was issued after the meeting:

The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee met today, March 23, 2025, in Cairo with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, to discuss the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories. The parties expressed deep concern over the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza and the resulting civilian casualties from recent airstrikes.

They condemned the resumption of hostilities and attacks on civilians and infrastructure, calling for the immediate reinstatement of the ceasefire and the release of all hostages and detainees. They emphasized the need to advance to the second phase of the January 19 agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, aiming for a permanent cessation of hostilities, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2735.

The committee underscored the importance of full adherence to international humanitarian and legal principles, including the swift, sustained, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to all areas of Gaza. They called for lifting all restrictions impeding aid access and restoring essential services, such as electricity and water desalination, without delay.

The ministers welcomed the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan, presented at the Cairo Summit on March 4, subsequently endorsed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and acknowledged by the European Council. They stressed that this plan ensures Palestinians remain on their land and firmly rejected any forced displacement from Gaza or the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. They warned of the grave consequences of any such actions.

The parties emphasized the importance of supporting the upcoming Early Recovery and Reconstruction Conference for Gaza, set to be held in Cairo with the participation of key stakeholders. They urged the international community to mobilize resources during the conference to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

The meeting reaffirmed the necessity of reunifying Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority and supporting its full governance over both territories. The ministers also stressed the need to safeguard the territorial integrity of the occupied Palestinian territories, viewing this as a fundamental step toward establishing a Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, in accordance with UN resolutions and the two-state solution framework.

Reiterating that Gaza is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967, the ministers underscored the necessity of ensuring that any discussions on Gaza’s future align with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The committee expressed grave concern over Israeli military incursions in the occupied West Bank, as well as illegal settlement expansion, home demolitions, and settler violence, which undermine Palestinian rights, jeopardize prospects for a just and lasting peace, and deepen the conflict.

They reaffirmed that Israel, as the occupying power, must protect civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law. The ministers also categorically rejected any attempts to annex territory or alter the legal and historical status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites.

The participants reiterated their full commitment to a political resolution based on the two-state solution, ensuring that Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully in line with UN resolutions, the Madrid principles including land for peace and the Arab Peace Initiative. They also reaffirmed their commitment to holding a high-level international conference in June in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia under UN auspices, to advance these objectives.

//Petra// AF

23/03/2025 21:35:32