NEW YORK: Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has stressed that the war on Gaza caused a humanitarian catastrophe, in addition to the serious violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.
He made the remarks at the ministerial meeting on the Palestinian issue and peace efforts on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly high-level week in New York.
The Foreign Minister on behalf of the Arab and Islamic countries and European partners, announced, the launch of the “International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution”.
Prince Faisal at the beginning of his speech, said that the war on Gaza caused a humanitarian catastrophe, in addition to the serious violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank and the threat to Al-Aqsa Mosque and religious sites in the consecration of the policy of occupation and violent extremism.
He stated: “Self-defense cannot justify the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, the practice of systematic destruction, forced displacement, the use of starvation as a tool of war, incitement, and dehumanization, and systematic torture in its most heinous forms, including sexual violence and other crimes documented according to United Nations reports.”
The Foreign Minister addressed the escalation in the region: “We are witnessing these days a dangerous regional escalation that affects the Lebanese Republic and leads us to the risk of a regional war that threatens our region and the entire world.”
He called for an end to the war, saying: “We demand an immediate end to the ongoing war and all violations that violate international law, and holding accountable all those obstructing the peace process and preventing them from threatening the security of the region and the entire world.” He added: “We wonder what remains of the credibility and legitimacy of the global system in the face of our inability to stop the war machine and the insistence of some on the selective application of international law in clear violation of the most basic standards of equality, freedom, and human rights.”
He added the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is an inherent right and a basis for peace and not an outcome negotiated within a distant political process. He stated: “We affirm our appreciation for the countries that have recently recognized Palestine, and we call on all countries to be courageous and take the same decision and join the international consensus represented by (149) countries that recognize Palestine. Implementing the two-state solution is the best solution to break the cycle of conflict and suffering and enforce a new reality in which the entire region, including Israel, enjoys security and coexistence.”
