AMMAN: The Ministerial Committee formed by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza, chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, held a virtual meeting on Sunday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss efforts toward a ceasefire and humanitarian relief in Gaza.
The meeting was attended by Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. From the Palestinian side, Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa participated.
The Committee briefed President Abbas on its diplomatic efforts to end the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, lift the blockade, and address the worsening humanitarian crisis. They also discussed preparations for the upcoming High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, to be held in New York this June under the joint leadership of Saudi Arabia and France.
The conference aims to promote the two-state solution based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
The Committee expressed support for the ongoing mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to reach an immediate and lasting ceasefire. It also urged Israel to allow the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and medical aid and grant access to UN agencies, particularly UNRWA, across the Gaza Strip. The Committee condemned the escalation of Israeli actions in the West Bank and stressed the importance of halting such measures.
The Committee emphasized the need to hold the International Conference on Early Recovery and Reconstruction in Gaza, planned to take place in Cairo immediately after a ceasefire is secured. The conference will implement the reconstruction plan adopted by the Arab Emergency Summit in March 2025.
Additionally, the Committee reiterated its support for the Palestinian National Authority and commended the reform steps initiated by President Abbas. It strongly condemned Israel’s obstruction of the Committee’s planned visit to Ramallah earlier in the day, calling it a violation of diplomatic norms and an attempt to derail peace and reform efforts.
The Committee described the incident as indicative of the Israeli government’s extremist policies, including continued obstruction of humanitarian aid and peace negotiations.
President Abbas thanked the Committee for its support and efforts to mobilize international backing to end the war, ease humanitarian suffering, and advance the two-state solution. He reaffirmed the Palestinian government’s commitment to reform and called for international support in political, economic, and security fields.
He also reiterated a call for Israel to release withheld Palestinian funds and affirmed his commitment to nonviolence, civilian protection, and regional peace in cooperation with Arab and international partners. President Abbas concluded by expressing hope that the Committee would soon be able to visit Palestinian territory in person.
