PARIS – The Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, under the leadership of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza. The meeting, focusing on achieving a sustainable peace in the region, was attended by several key foreign ministers and dignitaries from the Arab and Islamic world, along with the French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting commended the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States in mediating a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip. A ceasefire, expected to begin within 24 hours and last for four days with the possibility of extension, was a significant outcome of these efforts. The committee underscored the urgency of converting this truce into a lasting and complete ceasefire. The attendees called on the Security Council and the international community to take immediate actions to facilitate a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, stressing the importance of ensuring unimpeded access to essential humanitarian supplies including food, water, fuel, and electricity.
The committee members appealed to France to adopt a balanced approach in fostering an immediate, all-encompassing ceasefire and in the enforcement of relevant United Nations resolutions. They emphasized the international community’s responsibility to resist bias in applying moral and legal standards globally, advocating for the protection of Palestinian civilians against the actions of occupation forces and settler militias in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the need to revive the peace process. The committee members highlighted the imperative of securing a fair, enduring, and comprehensive peace by implementing international resolutions supporting the two-state solution. This involves the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state within the pre-June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, thus enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate rights.