Arab nations issued a united call on Wednesday for an immediate end to the violence in Gaza and the West Bank, rallying behind the Arab Peace Initiative as the sole path toward peace and stability in the region.
Speaking on behalf of the Arab League after a high-level UN conference on Palestine, a representative said the current crisis is the result of decades of occupation and systemic injustice.
“This is the price being paid by Palestinians, a price paid in blood,” the League's representative declared, quoting Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. He described the conflict as rooted in “apartheid and occupation,” while criticizing the international community for allowing such a system to endure.
The conference, titled *“High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,”* brought together representatives from across the Arab and Islamic world, along with key international stakeholders.
Oman, echoing the Arab League's position, emphasized that any lasting peace must align with international law and the Arab Peace Initiative, first proposed in 2002. Its representative condemned Israel’s ongoing settlement activity and warned that recent Israeli government policies are among the most extreme in decades, obstructing peace efforts.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also weighed in, calling for a full ceasefire and an end to Israeli aggression. The GCC’s statement demanded humanitarian access to Gaza, immediate reconstruction efforts, and reaffirmed support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
“True greatness is not based on power but on the ability to use power to serve justice,” the GCC representative said.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joined the chorus, accusing Israel of systematic crimes including blockade, destruction, and forced displacement in Gaza and the West Bank. The OIC urged international accountability, denouncing Israel’s attempts to assert sovereignty over Jerusalem and other occupied territories.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the conflict has reached a “breaking point,” citing deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The UN-backed food security agency warned that famine conditions are emerging, describing the situation as the “worst-case scenario.”
Meanwhile, Israel rejected the latest ceasefire proposal, reportedly refusing to withdraw its forces from strategic areas in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be moving ahead with plans to annex parts of the territory if Hamas refuses a truce.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the conference as “a political circus,” accusing participants of promoting lies and supporting terrorism.
Amid the diplomatic deadlock, the United States is sending special envoy Steven Witkoff to Tel Aviv for talks. His visit comes amid growing global calls for de-escalation.
Iran’s representative called for targeted sanctions against Israel and proposed suspending its UN membership, urging immediate steps to admit Palestine as a full UN member. “The time for appeasement is over,” he said, blaming the Security Council's inaction on US obstruction.
A follow-up summit is scheduled for September during the UN General Assembly, where discussions on the implementation of a two-state solution and full Palestinian UN membership are expected to continue.
Speaking on behalf of the Arab League after a high-level UN conference on Palestine, a representative said the current crisis is the result of decades of occupation and systemic injustice.
“This is the price being paid by Palestinians, a price paid in blood,” the League's representative declared, quoting Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. He described the conflict as rooted in “apartheid and occupation,” while criticizing the international community for allowing such a system to endure.
The conference, titled *“High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,”* brought together representatives from across the Arab and Islamic world, along with key international stakeholders.
Oman, echoing the Arab League's position, emphasized that any lasting peace must align with international law and the Arab Peace Initiative, first proposed in 2002. Its representative condemned Israel’s ongoing settlement activity and warned that recent Israeli government policies are among the most extreme in decades, obstructing peace efforts.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also weighed in, calling for a full ceasefire and an end to Israeli aggression. The GCC’s statement demanded humanitarian access to Gaza, immediate reconstruction efforts, and reaffirmed support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
“True greatness is not based on power but on the ability to use power to serve justice,” the GCC representative said.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joined the chorus, accusing Israel of systematic crimes including blockade, destruction, and forced displacement in Gaza and the West Bank. The OIC urged international accountability, denouncing Israel’s attempts to assert sovereignty over Jerusalem and other occupied territories.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the conflict has reached a “breaking point,” citing deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The UN-backed food security agency warned that famine conditions are emerging, describing the situation as the “worst-case scenario.”
Meanwhile, Israel rejected the latest ceasefire proposal, reportedly refusing to withdraw its forces from strategic areas in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be moving ahead with plans to annex parts of the territory if Hamas refuses a truce.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the conference as “a political circus,” accusing participants of promoting lies and supporting terrorism.
Amid the diplomatic deadlock, the United States is sending special envoy Steven Witkoff to Tel Aviv for talks. His visit comes amid growing global calls for de-escalation.
Iran’s representative called for targeted sanctions against Israel and proposed suspending its UN membership, urging immediate steps to admit Palestine as a full UN member. “The time for appeasement is over,” he said, blaming the Security Council's inaction on US obstruction.
A follow-up summit is scheduled for September during the UN General Assembly, where discussions on the implementation of a two-state solution and full Palestinian UN membership are expected to continue.
