UK Foreign Secretary Cameron Hosts Arab and Islamic Ministers to Discuss Israel-Hamas Conflict
LONDON: UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron convened a crucial meeting on Wednesday with foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries in London. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza, with a key focus on securing the release of all hostages, increasing aid to Gaza, and seeking a long-term political solution to the conflict.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Foreign Minister, led the ministerial committee mandated by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit. The committee included representatives from Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Turkiye, Indonesia, and Nigeria, as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
In attendance was Lord Ahmad, the UK Minister of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and the United Nations at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.
The meeting took place following an overnight agreement between Israel and Hamas that established coordinated hostage releases and a temporary pause in the fighting. The UK’s FCDO issued a statement highlighting the significance of this development.
During the discussions, Cameron emphasized the importance of allowing humanitarian organizations to bring in additional fuel to carry out life-saving work without hindrance. This includes powering hospitals and desalination plants, which provide 80 percent of Gaza’s water.
The FCDO statement stated, The foreign secretary discussed with leaders at the meeting how to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts toward a viable two-state solution, which provides security for both Israelis and Palestinians, and restated the UK’s condemnation of the rise in settler violence in the West Bank.
Cameron reassured the participants of the UK’s commitment to prevent wider regional escalation, particularly in Lebanon and Yemen.
Speaking at the meeting, Cameron highlighted the significance of the recent agreement between Israel and Hamas, saying, The agreement reached last night is an important opportunity to get the hostages out and more aid into Gaza to help the Palestinian people. We discussed how to use this step forward to think about the future and how we can build a peaceful future which provides security for Israel but also peace and stability for the Palestinian people.
The meeting commended the joint mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the US, which led to the truce. The precise timing of its implementation will be announced within 24 hours, with the possibility of extension, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The ministerial committee emphasized the urgency for the Security Council and the international community to take effective and immediate measures to achieve a complete cease-fire in the Palestinian enclave. This is a matter of utmost priority for all Arab and Islamic countries.
The committee called on the UK to adopt a balanced role consistent with international law and humanitarian principles. Their request includes facilitating an immediate cease-fire and implementing all relevant international resolutions.
Central to the discussions was the need to revive the peace process. Arab and Islamic officials stressed the importance of ensuring a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace through the implementation of international resolutions related to the two-state solution. They also emphasized enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate rights in establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that members of the ministerial committee urged the international community to reject any selective application of international legal and moral standards. They denounced the crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces and settler militias against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
As part of their diplomatic efforts, the delegation, known as the Peace Committee, formed at the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh on November 11, is visiting the capitals of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council. Their visit to London followed meetings in Beijing and Moscow, with upcoming trips planned to Paris and Washington.
The UK has played a leading role in addressing the humanitarian crisis by recently announcing an additional £30 million ($37.4 million) in aid to the Palestinian territories. This commitment more than doubles the aid pledged for this year, as noted by the FCDO.
In summary, the meeting between UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Arab and Islamic ministers in London focused on finding solutions to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The discussions centered on securing the release of hostages, increasing aid to Gaza, and advancing towards a long-term political resolution. The meeting also emphasized the need for a complete cease-fire, a revived peace process, and the implementation of international resolutions for a two-state solution. The UK’s commitment to preventing regional escalation and its increased aid pledge to the Palestinian territories were also highlighted.
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