Baghdad: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi emphasized on Saturday at the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad that the Palestinian cause is a matter of commitment and justice, stating that it has become a true test of the abilities of the nation to defend its historical rights, which do not diminish over time.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Budaiwi described the situation in Gaza and the West Bank as a systematic policy aimed at uprooting a people, imposing a new colonial reality, and challenging international resolutions. He added that GCC states have worked with fellow Arab nations to foster peace and propose fair solutions that uphold Palestinian rights and dignity.
Al Budaiwi urged the international community to pressure Israel to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza, lift the blockade without conditions, open crossings, ensure humanitarian aid delivery, and maintain UNRWA operations amid critical circumstances.
He also stressed the need to deploy international peacekeeping forces in Palestine to protect civilians, support the Gaza reconstruction plan approved at the Cairo Summit, and convene an international conference to implement it.
The GCC Secretary-General rejected forced displacement of Palestinians, emphasizing that Arab nations, particularly Egypt, should not bear additional humanitarian or political burdens. He called for supporting the international coalition to implement the two-state solution, initiated by Saudi Arabia in partnership with Norway and the European Union.
Al Budaiwi reaffirmed the GCC's unwavering commitment to the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish an independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international resolutions.
He asserted that Israeli actions extend beyond Palestinian territories to Syria and Lebanon, reiterating the GCC's stance that the Golan Heights is Syrian Arab land.
He commented that the GCC strongly condemns Israeli expansionist policies in the occupied Golan, viewing them as a severe violation of the UN Charter, international law, and relevant Security Council resolutions. He urged the global community to take responsibility for stopping Israeli aggression in Syria and ensuring the withdrawal of occupation forces from all Syrian territories and southern Lebanon.
Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hussein Ibrahim Taha emphasized in his speech that Arab-Islamic relations reflect strong historical bonds.
He reaffirmed that the Palestinian issue remains central to institutional priorities, stating that cooperation on this matter was strengthened during the Arab and Islamic summits in 2023 and 2024.
Taha expressed hope that this summit will lead to the implementation of efforts to secure Palestinian rights on the ground, concluding by stating that the OIC wants to see a fully established Palestinian state.