The Global Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution meeting chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 30, 2024. , Photo courtesy: Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (October 30, 2024) hosted the first meeting of a new “international coalition” to press for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Unveiled on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last month, the “International Coalition to Implement a Two-State Solution” brings together nations of the middle eastEurope and beyond.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said about 90 “states and international organizations” were participating in the two-day meeting in Riyadh.
He described the humanitarian situation as “catastrophic” and condemned the “complete blockade” of northern Gaza, saying “genocide is taking place with the goal of evicting the Palestinian people from their land, which Saudi Arabia rejects.”
“The Riyadh meeting was expected to focus on humanitarian access, the embattled UN agency for Palestinian refugees and measures to advance a two-state solution,” the diplomats said.
“The EU was set to be represented by Sven Koopmans, the Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process,” the diplomats said.
The United States, Israel’s top military backer, sent Hadi Amr, the State Department’s special representative for Palestinian affairs.
The Gaza War has revived discussion of “two-state solutionIn which Israeli and Palestinian states would live together in peace, although analysts say that goal seems more unattainable than ever.
Prime Minister’s hard-right Israeli government benjamin netanyahu Remains a staunch opponent of Palestinian statehood.
Arab-Islamic summit
Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter and guardian of Islam’s two holiest sites, halted US-brokered talks on recognizing Israel after the Gaza war broke out last year. Palestinian militants Hamas And Israel.
In September, the state’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said that an “independent Palestinian state” was a prerequisite for normalization.
Prince Faisal reiterated that position on Wednesday (October 30, 2024).
The Saudi Foreign Ministry on Wednesday (October 30, 2024) also called for “a joint Arab-Islamic follow-up summit” to be held on November 11, which will focus on “the current and ongoing Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territories and the Lebanese Republic.” . development in the area”
In November last year, Saudi Arabia hosted a joint meeting of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, condemning the “barbaric” actions of Israeli forces in Gaza.
Ireland, Norway and Spain announced recognition of Palestinian statehood in May, drawing an angry reaction from Israel.
Slovenia soon joined them, bringing the number of countries recognizing the Palestinian state to 146 out of 193 UN member states.
The Gaza war began on October 7 last year due to Hamas’ unprecedented attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians. AFP Israeli official figures tally.
Israel’s counterattacks have killed at least 43,163 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.
published – October 31, 2024 11:43 am IST