The Ministerial Committee formed by the Extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, led by His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, convened an official meeting with His Excellency David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom. The session, held at the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development in London, also featured the presence of Lord Tariq Ahmad, the Minister of State for Eastern Affairs, the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and the United Nations.
Participating in this meeting were members of the Ministerial Committee, including His Excellency Ayman Safadi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; His Excellency Sameh Shukri, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt; His Excellency Riyad Al-Maliki, the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates; His Excellency Hakan Fidan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey; Her Excellency Retno Marsudi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia; His Excellency Yusuf Maitama Togar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.
During the meeting, the Committee expressed appreciation for the collaborative mediation efforts of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, and the United States of America. These efforts successfully led to an agreement on a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip. The exact timing of the truce, spanning four days initially and potentially extendable, will be announced within the next 24 hours. The Committee underscored the importance of leveraging the humanitarian truce as a stepping stone towards achieving a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire at the earliest possible opportunity.
The members of the Ministerial Committee emphasised the critical necessity for members of the Security Council and the wider international community to promptly and effectively implement measures leading to a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. They underscored that such a ceasefire is a top priority for all Arab and Islamic nations.
Furthermore, the Committee called upon the UK to assume a balanced role in alignment with international law and humanitarian principles. This role should aim at achieving an immediate ceasefire and the execution of all pertinent international resolutions.
The meeting delved into the imperative of revitalising the peace process. Committee members highlighted the significance of securing a just, enduring, and all-encompassing peace. This entails the implementation of international resolutions related to the two-state solution and enabling the Palestinian people to realise their legitimate rights in establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the borders of 4 June 1967, with its capital in East Jerusalem.
Additionally, the Committee addressed the vital issue of ensuring secure passages for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, including food, water, fuel, and electricity to Gaza. They also advocated for granting international organizations the necessary access to carry out their missions in the Gaza Strip and its environs.
