Kuwait advocates for sustainable peace

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RIYADH, Nov 11, (Agencies): Indescribable crimes are being committed against our Palestinian brothers in Gaza while we are convening at the moment, said Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Saturday, addressing the extraordinary Islamic-Arab summit in Riyadh.

The Israeli occupation is leading to an unjustified collective punishment enveloped by dual standards going counter to all relevant international and humanitarian resolutions, noted His Highness Sheikh Mishal, calling on the international community, especially the UN Security Council to enact its role in immediately halting the bloodshed and provide international protection for the Palestinian people, welcoming at the same time the UN General Assembly’s decision to call for a humanitarian truce; reflective of the magnitude of the crisis in Gaza.

The State of Kuwait, His Highness stressed, is all for sustainable peace in the region, starting with a final and just solution for the Palestinian cause according to the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international references, reiterating that the cause will always be of Kuwait’s top foreign policy priorities. Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Saturday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and for putting an end to the Israeli occupation’s violations.

Addressing an extraordinary Arab- Islamic summit in Riyadh, he said today’s gathering came amid exceptional and painful circumstances, reiterating rejection of the aggression on the Palestinian people. The Saudi Crown Prince also restated the kingdom’s emphatic opposition to the Israeli occupation’s continued airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, and to the targeting of civilians. Saudi Arabia hosted Muslim and Arab leaders in Riyadh on Saturday with the aim of devising their own cohesive strategy on Gaza. Initially intended to be two separate gatherings, the country decided to merge them into one to expedite the process in response to the escalating violence, according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry. This summit is held as we witness extraordinary and painful circumstances, said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman on Saturday. Deputizing for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman chaired and inaugurated the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh. In this regard, “we affirm our condemnation and rejection of the ruthless war to which our brothers in Palestine are subjected, in which thousands of unarmed civilians, children, women and the elderly were killed, and in which hospitals, places of worship and infrastructure were destroyed,” he addressed the summit.

The Kingdom has exerted unremitting efforts since the beginning of the events to protect civilians in Gaza Strip, and continuously consulted and coordinated with its brothers and effective countries to stop the war, he added,” reiterating demands for an immediate halt to military operations, for the provision of humanitarian corridors to aid civilians, and for enabling international humanitarian organizations to perform their role. “We also stress the call for the release of hostages and detainees, and to spare the lives of innocent people.” On his part, King Abdullah II of Jordan emphasized that the purpose of the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit was to address the plight of Gaza and its people, who have endured killing, destruction, and an appalling war that must be halted immediately. He warned that, if left unresolved, the region could descend into a major conflict with innocent people from both sides paying the price, and such consequences affecting the entire world.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi vehemently underscored that Israeli occupation forces have not only violated human values, but have also launched a brutal assault on Gaza. He further highlighted that a significant majority of the victims of this occupation are innocent children, women, as well as medical and relief personnel. During his speech at the Riyadhhosted extraordinary summit, President Raisi stressed the importance of a ceasefire and the opening of the Rafah crossing without restrictions or conditions, calling for a historic decision towards the current situation in the Palestinian territories. Similar speeches were made by a potpourri of Arab and Muslim leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani, Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Erdogan, Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abu al-Gheit and Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hussein Taha.

The extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit kick-started in Riyadh earlier today in response to the exceptional circumstances in the Gaza Strip. It was decided to hold a joint Arab- Islamic summit, instead of two gatherings, following collaboration with the Arab League and the OIC. Elsewhere, Israel’s prime minister pushed back Saturday against calls from Western allies to do more to protect Palestinian civilians, as troops encircled Gaza’s largest hospital where doctors said five patients died, including a premature baby, after the last generator ran out of fuel. Israel has portrayed Shifa Hospital as Hamas’ main command post, saying militants were using civilians as human shields there and had set up elaborate bunkers underneath it – claims Hamas and Shifa staff deny.

In recent days, fighting near Shifa and other hospitals in the combat zone of northern Gaza has intensified and supplies have run out. “There is no electricity. Medical devices stopped. Patients, especially those in intensive care, started to die,” said Mohammed Abu Selmia, the director of Shifa, speaking by phone over the sound of gunfire and explosions. Abu Selmia said Israeli troops were “shooting at anyone outside or inside the hospital,” and prevented movement between the buildings in the compound. The claim that Israeli troops were the sole source of fire could not be verified independently. Asked about reports of troops firing into the Shifa courtyard, the Israeli military would only say that troops are engaged with fighting Hamas in the vicinity and take all feasible measures to prevent harm to civilians. It said soldiers have encountered hundreds of Hamas fighters in underground facilities, schools, mosques and clinics during fighting in Gaza. At Shifa, five patients died after the generator shut down, including a premature baby, said Medhat Abbas, a spokesman for the Health Ministry.

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