This came during a speech delivered by His Excellency the Secretary General on the occasion of International Peace Day, which is observed under the theme  “Peace Day Efforts: A Renewed Effort for Peace in the Middle East,” today, Monday, September 18, 2023, on the sidelines of His Excellency’s participation in the meetings of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York, the United States of America.

His Excellency the Secretary General of the GCC expressed his deep gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the League of Arab States, the European Union, and the vital cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

"This assembly is a testament to the weight of the current moment, as unfortunately, the Israeli-Palestinian peace continues to be elusive. Decades have passed since the peace process was launched in Madrid in 1991, and yet, there remain no real horizons for achieving the Two State Solution. This glaring reality serves as a reminder of the complexity of the challenge but also reinforces our determination to strive for a resolution," His Excellency said. 

"For years, the GCC, hand-in-hand with our Arab brothers, has been solid in its pursuit of peace. We have actively collaborated with the US, the EU, and several other nations. Our steadfast commitment has steadily been to champion a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region. Rooted deeply in the principles set forth by UN resolutions, we emphasise the importance of full implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions concerning the Palestinian issue," His Excellency added. 

Moreover, His Excellency denounced actions that aim to change the demographic makeup, distinct character, and status of the Palestinian territories under occupation. "Our position is centred on the 1967 borders, recognizing East Jerusalem as the indisputable capital of Palestine," His Excellency stated. 

Furthermore, His Excellency the Secretary General called upon all different types of successive Governments of Israel—past, current, and future—to genuinely take real steps toward achieving peace with the Palestinian people. "This includes engaging sincerely in political dialogue. At the same time, it's essential to refrain from adopting unnecessary and unhelpful measures that further escalate the conflict, such as provoking the Palestinian people, continuing to build new illegal settlements, and ignoring the broad international calls to engage in peace talks with the Palestinians," His Excellency pointed out. 

Finally, His Excellency praised the Peace Day initiative for its alignment with the pressing need to revitalise a purposeful peace process aimed at alleviating the plight of the Palestinian people. "This initiative is in line with international law, United Nations resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002," His Excellency stressed, underscoring the importance of implementing such initiatives, as failing to do so would lead to further deterioration that poses a threat to regional and international security.