The Arab Islamic Ministerial Committee Condemns Israel's Announcement of Intent to Militarily Control Gaza

SadaNews - The ministerial committee tasked by the extraordinary joint Arab Islamic summit regarding developments in the Gaza Strip, which includes the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Indonesia, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the State of Palestine, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Turkey, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Chad, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of Gambia, the State of Kuwait, the State of Libya, Malaysia, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Yemen, expressed their strong condemnation and outright rejection of Israel's announcement of its intention to impose complete military control over the Gaza Strip. They consider this announcement to be a serious and unacceptable escalation, a violation of international law, and an attempt to entrench illegal occupation and impose a reality by force that contradicts relevant international legitimacy decisions.

We affirm that this announced orientation from Israel continues its grave violations based on killing, starvation, attempts at forced displacement, and annexation of Palestinian land, as well as settler terrorism, which are crimes that could amount to crimes against humanity. It also dissipates any opportunity for achieving peace, undermines regional and international efforts to achieve calm and end the conflict, and amplifies the serious violations against the Palestinian people who have faced, for 22 months, aggression and a comprehensive siege that has affected all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip, alongside serious violations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

In light of this serious development, we emphasize the following:

‏• The urgent and comprehensive cessation of Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and stopping the continuous violations committed by the occupying forces against civilians and infrastructure in the Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

‏• Demanding that Israel, as the occupying power, allow the immediate and unconditional entry of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip, including adequate needs of food, medicine, and fuel, and ensure the freedom of action for relief agencies and international humanitarian organizations in accordance with international humanitarian law and applicable international humanitarian standards.

‏• Supporting efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire, which are being exerted by the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, and the United States of America, to reach an agreement for the exchange of prisoners and hostages, considering it a vital humanitarian entry point to de-escalate, alleviate suffering, and end the Israeli aggression.

. The necessity to immediately start implementing the Arab Islamic plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and calling for effective participation in the Gaza Reconstruction Conference scheduled to be held in Cairo soon.

. Rejecting and condemning any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and emphasizing the need to preserve the legal and historical status of the Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem, while recognizing the essential role played by the Hashemite custodianship in this regard.

‏• Emphasizing that just and lasting peace cannot be achieved except through implementing the two-state solution, ensuring the embodiment of an independent Palestinian state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law principles and relevant United Nations resolutions.

We hold the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the genocide and unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe witnessed in the Gaza Strip. We call on the international community, especially the permanent members of the Security Council, to bear their legal and humanitarian responsibilities, and to take urgent action to stop the Israeli aggressive policies aimed at undermining opportunities for achieving just and lasting peace and eliminate the prospects for implementing the two-state solution and achieving a just and comprehensive peace, and to work for the immediate accountability of all the violations committed by Israel against international law and international humanitarian law, including those that amount to genocide.

We also emphasize the necessity to work on implementing the outcomes of the high-level conference for the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution held in New York, chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France, as well as what was included in the final document of urgent executive measures within a timeline to end the war in Gaza, and adhering to a political path for the comprehensive peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution.