Cairo: The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee convened in Cairo alongside HE High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, to discuss the escalating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
According to Qatar News Agency, the committee expressed serious concern over the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza, highlighting the significant civilian casualties resulting from recent airstrikes. The committee condemned the resumption of violence and the targeting of civilians and infrastructure, urging a swift return to the ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States on January 19th. This agreement, endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2,735, includes the release of hostages and detainees, a permanent end to hostilities, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The committee emphasized the necessity of adhering to international humanitarian and international law, particularly in ensuring unrestricted humanitarian access and aid delivery throughout Gaza. They called for lifting barriers to aid distribution and restoring essential services in the region, including electricity for water desalination.
The committee welcomed the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan, which was introduced at the Arab Summit in Cairo and later adopted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the European Council. They reaffirmed the plan’s significance in maintaining the Palestinian presence in their homeland and rejected any displacement efforts of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The committee highlighted the importance of the upcoming Conference on the Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza, calling for international collaboration to gather resources needed to address Gaza’s dire situation. They stressed support for the Palestinian Authority in managing Gaza and the West Bank, underscoring the need for territorial integrity and unity within the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as a foundation for the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.
Concerns were also raised about Israeli military activities in the West Bank, including settlement expansion and home demolitions, which threaten peace prospects and exacerbate the conflict. Israel, as the occupying power, was reminded of its obligations to protect civilians and comply with international humanitarian law, rejecting any annexation attempts or unilateral actions affecting Jerusalem’s status.
The committee reiterated their commitment to a political resolution through a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living peacefully within secure borders, based on UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. They supported the upcoming UN High Level International Conference in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, to further these goals.