​Your Excellency Dr. Shaye Al-Zindani,
Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs of the Republic of Yemen,
Chairman of the 162nd Ordinary Session of the Council of the League of Arab State at the Ministerial Level,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers,
Your Excellencies and Honourable Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Your Excellency, the Minister, on the Republic of Yemen's assumption of the presidency of the 162nd session of the Ministerial Council. I wish you every success and prosperity in this role. Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Mauritanians Abroad, for his exemplary leadership during the 161st session of the Council.
Furthermore, I would like to congratulate Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Mr. Mohamed Ali Nafti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Tunisians Abroad of the Republic of Tunisia, on their recent appointments. Their presence at the Council’s proceedings today marks an important milestone as they engage in this vital diplomatic forum for the first time.
Mr. President,
As we approach the first anniversary since the brutal aggression against our people in Gaza and throughout Palestine, we reflect on a year marked by unrelenting criminality—a year characterised by genocide and ethnic cleansing that is brazenly paraded without shame. There is no regard for accountability or justice, as evidenced by the tragic toll of 17,000 children and 11,000 women lost to this violence.
This year has also laid bare the international community's failure to intervene and halt the massacre. Some Western powers, particularly at the onset of the aggression, have even provided a refuge for this criminality, offering political cover that has allowed the bloodshed to persist and expand—from steadfast Gaza to southern Lebanon and the West Bank. In the West Bank alone, 700 people have been martyred since 7 October, alongside widespread destruction, devastation, and immense loss.
I say this candidly: the major powers in the world today either lack the will to pressure the occupying forces or are unable to curb their tyranny. It took months before certain nations even whispered the word "ceasefire." By the time they recognised the magnitude of the crimes and called for an end to the hostilities, it was too late. The aggressor became emboldened, confident that no one would challenge them, believing they were above the law, beyond accountability, and untouchable by international justice—whether through the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court. The United Nations and its resolutions, as well as the Security Council's clear calls for a ceasefire, seem powerless in the face of this aggression.
If the occupation perpetrates crimes out of a desire for revenge, then it stands guilty of murder and stripped of humanity. However, the motivations extend beyond revenge; they are rooted in a delusion of permanence, an illusion that it can consume the land devoid of its people. The true agenda of the occupation is veiled behind a façade of security, promoting an agenda that seeks to liquidate the Palestinian cause, annex territories, and achieve ethnic cleansing and displacement.
The official rhetoric surrounding cleansing and genocide is not a fabrication of our own making; it is recorded and will not be forgotten. The intentions behind forced displacement are evident and are actively being pursued, encompassing both Gaza and the West Bank. This is exemplified by the internal forced displacement they euphemistically refer to as "evacuation orders."
In unison and solidarity, we have risen to confront these plans, and we will continue to resist them through both words and deeds. We will expose the true nature of the occupation to the world, ensuring that its intentions and objectives are known. Our ongoing efforts will support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land. The Palestinians are shedding their blood in a noble struggle, and the least we can offer in return is our unwavering support for this steadfastness, which embodies the essence of the Palestinian cause and its enduring presence on the ground. More than 41,000 martyrs have fallen, yet six million remain on the land of Palestine, resolute and unremovable.
Mr. President,
In recent months, we have engaged in a vigorous diplomatic campaign, spearheaded by the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, under the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our efforts have begun to yield results, as global perspectives gradually align with ours. We are witnessing a shift in the language of governments, an expanding recognition of the Palestinian state, and peoples around the world voicing their condemnation of a human injustice that only those devoid of conscience and stripped of humanity can deny.
It is imperative that we continue our efforts alongside partners who recognize the righteousness of our cause and seek to translate the two-state solution into tangible action, rather than merely advocating for it in words.
Today, the call for a ceasefire transcends being an Arab demand; it has become a global imperative that enjoys widespread consensus. It is not only a humanitarian and moral necessity but also a strategic objective aimed at shielding this region from the catastrophic consequences of a large-scale war, the spectre of which looms ominously on the horizon, threatening destruction for all without exception.
Nevertheless, despite this clarity, the occupation persists in its delusions, continuously attempting to evade accountability through fabrications and deceit. The head of the occupying government claims that the Philadelphi Corridor obstructs the prisoner exchange deal and the ceasefire. However, the reality is that the rejection of occupation forces along the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip is an Egyptian stance, firmly supported by the Arab states. This position is rooted in the determination to prevent the re-imposition of occupation on Gaza and to resist any fragmentation of its territory.
It has become evident to all that Netanyahu is unwilling to finalise a deal because he refuses to bear the necessary costs. He does not seek to halt this aggressive war, even to safeguard his own people, the majority of whom are beginning to see through his evasions and his blatant agenda. We recently heard him assert that living in the Middle East is impossible without the sword. In response, we assert that after all this killing and destruction, Israel will ultimately have no choice but to accept a Palestinian state living alongside the State of Israel. The sword will not resolve this issue, and attempts to terrorise the heroic Palestinian people will yield no success.
Mr. President,
The open wound in Palestine does not diminish our concern for the other wounds that afflict our beloved homelands. Sudan continues to grapple with a humanitarian crisis that is perhaps among the most severe. A political settlement and an end to the fighting remain elusive goals, as the crisis deepens. The recent disaster of floods and torrents has only compounded the suffering already endured by the people. Approximately 32,000 families across 13 states in Sudan have been affected. During his recent visit to Port Sudan, the Director of the World Health Organisation remarked that the city's health system is on the brink of collapse.
This situation demands an urgent and coordinated response from all nations and organisations to assist Sudan and its people in overcoming this multifaceted humanitarian ordeal. The food crisis in the country is the worst in the world, and the conditions for the displaced are exceedingly precarious. Sudan must not be abandoned to face these calamities alone.
On Libya, I must express my deep regret and concern regarding the recent developments in this cherished Arab nation. The divisions persist, with the rift between east and west widening rather than healing. Positions are hardening in ways that do not serve the unity of Libya or the integrity of its institutions, including those that benefit the Libyan citizen across the country. We urge all active parties to prioritise the interests of the people and the preservation of their resources. From this platform, we call upon all parties to return to constructive dialogue under the auspices of the House of Arabs, to bridge their differences and lay the groundwork for comprehensive national reconciliation and the long-awaited elections.
Mr. President,
The challenges we face are numerous, and the current stage our nation is navigating is critical, demanding unwavering solidarity, cooperation, and collective action. We can only overcome our crises through mutual support and collaboration.
Thank you, and I wish the session every success and prosperity. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.