Arab heads of state and government met at the 33rd Summit in Bahrain on Thursday, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict topping the agenda. The leaders made a unanimous call for a United Nations peacekeeping force in occupied Palestinian territory and an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
Over seven months into Israel’s relentless bombardment of Palestine, the Arab League declaration emphasized: “The need to immediately halt the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, and the withdrawal of the Israeli Occupation Forces from all areas of the Strip.”
Among the comments, the League noted: “We strongly condemn Israel’s obstruction of ceasefire efforts in the Gaza Strip.” The officials also noted the immediate need to “remove all obstacles and open all crossings for the entry of adequate humanitarian assistance,” the full report published on The National News reads.
Furthermore, the heads of state denounced Israel’s continued military escalation “through the expansion of its aggression against Rafah, despite international warnings of catastrophic humanitarian consequences.”
The Arab League said humanitarian assistance should include: “Enabling the United Nations organizations, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to operate.”
In addition to immediate calls for action, members of the League spoke about considerations post-war.
“The destruction that Gaza is witnessing today will leave grave consequences in its wake for the generations that have witnessed death and injustice, and Gaza will need years to recover,” said King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Throughout the Summit, the Arab League reiterated its support for the two-state solution saying it is a means for Palestinian people to “achieve their legitimate rights and establish their independent national State on their national soil.”