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AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi hosted on Sunday members of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Developments in the Gaza Strip, after Israel blocked the group from entering Ramallah.
The committee, headed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, included Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and Safadi.
The committee also held a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after Israel blocked the delegation’s visit to Ramallah, a move they said “reflects Israeli arrogance and a violation of international law and its legal obligations as an occupying power,” according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
Speaking at a joint press conference, the delegation reaffirmed its commitment to halting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, ending the humanitarian crisis, and reviving the two-state solution, the statement said.
“We are working tirelessly to stop this war and meet the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost their right to an independent, sovereign state along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Safadi said.
“We were honored today [on Sunday] to meet His Majesty King Abdullah and HRH Crown Prince Hussein. His Majesty emphasised the importance of the committee’s role in mobilising an effective international stance to stop the war on Gaza, end the unprecedented humanitarian disaster, and launch a genuine effort to establish an independent Palestinian state on its national soil as the only path to lasting, comprehensive, and just peace.”
Safadi noted that the committee held extensive virtual talks with Abbas after the visit to Ramallah was postponed due to Israel’s decision to block the delegation’s entry through the airspace over the occupied West Bank. “Israel’s decision to block the visit provided yet another clear example to the world of the Israeli government’s arrogance, extremism, and disregard for international law.”
“This extremist Israeli government, which commits massacres in Gaza, kills children and women, destroys hospitals, and uses starvation as a weapon, is the same government preventing a political delegation seeking peace from visiting the occupied West Bank.”
“We want a just peace and are working toward it. Meanwhile, the Israeli government continues its war on Gaza and its illegal measures, settlement expansion, land confiscation, and siege on the Palestinian people and their leadership. It continues to kill every opportunity for just and comprehensive peace. The world must face this reality and deal with this extremist Israeli government accordingly.”
Safadi said the committee affirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause in its meeting with President Abbas. “Our continued efforts to achieve an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, allow humanitarian aid entry, and fulfill all legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to establish an independent, sovereign state along the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital. This includes efforts through the upcoming conference in New York jointly chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.”
“Realising the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in full is the foundation of the just and lasting peace we all seek. Without these rights, there will be no peace, no security, and no stability.”
Prince Faisal said that Israel’s obstruction of the committee’s visit to the West Bank “clearly demonstrates its extremism and rejection of any serious peace efforts. They only seek violence, and this increases our resolve to double down on our diplomatic efforts to confront and eliminate such arrogance.”
He added that the meeting with Abbas was “productive, important, and comprehensive, addressing all major issues, most importantly the need for a ceasefire in Gaza through the release of hostages and Israeli military withdrawal.”
Abdel Aty said the committee's meeting with the King Abdullah and Crown Prince was “highly productive,” and they listened to His Majesty’s vision regarding Arab-Islamic ministerial committee efforts on the Palestinian issue, especially achieving full humanitarian aid access and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
He added the committee received a detailed briefing from Abbas on the reform agenda aimed at serving the Palestinian people across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, where no humanitarian or medical aid truck has entered in 80 days, “a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law.”
He emphasised continued pressure to ensure the delivery of aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, stressing that current starvation policies violate basic human rights.
Abdel Aty also noted ongoing coordination to hold the Cairo International Conference for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza once a ceasefire is achieved. “Preparations are underway with all international partners, including the UN and World Bank. The conference will also address governance and security arrangements in Gaza.”
He underscored the importance of supporting Palestinians’ presence on their land and firmly rejecting any displacement schemes, which “Egypt and Jordan will forcefully confront.”
Alzayani emphasised the importance of the committee's meeting with the King Abdullah and his guidance on achieving regional peace.
He also said that the Bahrain Declaration, issued at the 2024 summit chaired by King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, “was not merely a statement but a unified Arab stance and a diplomatic action plan to address challenges, especially the urgent need to stop the war on Gaza, secure the release of all hostages, speed up humanitarian aid delivery, reject forced displacement, and rebuild Gaza.”
He confirmed that Bahrain, during its upcoming two-year term on the UN Security Council, will continue efforts to achieve full UN membership for the State of Palestine.