The foreign ministers of five Arab nations – the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt – united on Monday in a virtual meeting to express their support for ongoing mediation efforts aimed at ending the crisis in Gaza.
The focus of the discussions, according to a joint statement released by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was on the latest developments in mediation attempts undertaken by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. These efforts strive to secure a permanent ceasefire, facilitate the release of hostages and detainees, and ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into the beleaguered Gaza Strip.
The foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE voiced their strong endorsement of these ongoing mediation efforts. The statement further highlighted the importance of seriously considering the ceasefire proposal presented by US President Joe Biden on June 2nd. This proposal, the ministers emphasized, offers a potential pathway towards a lasting ceasefire and the delivery of much-needed aid to alleviate the suffering of the Gaza population.
Beyond the immediate ceasefire, the foreign ministers emphasized the urgent need to address the root causes of the crisis. They called for an end to the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have triggered a severe humanitarian catastrophe. The statement stressed the importance of facilitating the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes and securing the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
Looking towards the long-term, the Arab foreign ministers emphasized their commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable path to achieving lasting peace and security in the region. They called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This solution, the statement argued, should be implemented within a defined timeframe and backed by binding international guarantees.
The united stance of these five Arab nations represents a significant development in the ongoing efforts to de-escalate the violence in Gaza. The endorsement of the US-led mediation efforts, coupled with the emphasis on a two-state solution, underscores the Arab world's collective desire for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.