His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), pointed out during his speech at the Urgent Humanitarian Response Conference for Gaza that the conference comes at a difficult and unprecedented time for the brotherly Palestinian people, due to the irresponsible and inhumane practices of the Israeli occupation forces, which have had serious repercussions on the security and stability of the region and the whole world.
This came during the participation of His Excellency the Secretary General in the Urgent Humanitarian Response Conference for Gaza, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Amman. The conference was held at the invitation of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and His Excellency Mr Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations.
The conference was also attended by heads of state, heads of government, and heads of international humanitarian and relief organisations.
His Excellency the Secretary General began his speech by expressing the highest gratitude and appreciation for the gracious invitation from His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and His Excellency Mr Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, to participate in this important event, which aims to coordinate collective efforts to provide relief to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Moreover, His Excellency stated in his speech that the Jordanian and Egyptian initiative for this conference is filled with a sense of responsibility and an awareness of the risks and suffering that are afflicting our brothers in Palestine, as well as the gravity of the repercussions of the war waged by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, for which innocent civilians are paying the price.
Furthermore, His Excellency emphasised the position of the Cooperation Council, which calls for the cessation of military operations by the Israeli occupation forces that have exceeded all humanitarian and legal boundaries, and the total rejection of the forcible displacement of civilians and the targeting of hospitals, places of worship, and United Nations facilities.
His Excellency recalled that the conference is in harmony with the call made by the Cooperation Council at its Forty-Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Ministerial Council, to convene an international conference with the participation of all concerned parties to discuss all issues related to the Palestinian issue, and to reach a solution based on ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
His Excellency reiterated during his speech the firm and unwavering position of the Cooperation Council since its inception, which supports the rights of the Palestinian people and condemns the aggression of the Israeli occupation forces.
"The Cooperation Council member states, alongside their Arab brethren, have presented initiative after initiative calling for peace and rejecting violence, yet these have fallen on deaf ears from the occupying powers. They have also called for an immediate ceasefire and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as for providing international protection for the Palestinians and holding Israel legally responsible for its attacks," His Excellency pointed out, recalling in the same context with great pride the historical positions of the Cooperation Council states, and the efforts of the Ministerial Committee mandated by the joint Arab-Islamic Summit to address the Israeli aggression and push for the implementation of the two-state solution.
"Such efforts are widely praised, especially as they are made tirelessly and continuously traversing the countries of the world, seeking a lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, appealing to give a glimmer of hope to the Palestinian people and support the efforts exerted to stop the war and ensure the delivery of aid," he explained.
Additionally, His Excellency highly commended the European countries that have recently recognised the State of Palestine, namely Ireland, Norway, Spain, and Slovenia, stating that this recognition represents a fundamental step towards achieving justice and peace for the Palestinian people, and reinforces the international efforts aimed at ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state.
His Excellency strongly urged all other European countries and the rest of the world that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine to follow suit in this humane, just, and honorable position, affirming respect for international laws and promoting human rights. He welcomed the UN Secretary General's decision to include Israel on the "Blacklist of Countries Killing Children", considering this decision an important step towards holding Israel accountable for its violations against the Palestinian people.
In conclusion, His Excellency the GCC Secretary General expressed the hope that the occupying authorities would have a humane government that appreciates and understands the magnitude of the suffering that the Palestinian people have endured since 1948, wishing that an Israeli government that truly believes in peace and the two-state solution would be convinced of a just and comprehensive solution to this long-standing issue, so that both sides can enjoy security and stability, and that peace and prosperity may prevail in the region and the world, as clearly outlined in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. "The hope that this conference would contribute to easing some of the suffering endured by the Palestinian people," he stressed.