Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made a strong call for the recognition of Palestine as an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. His comments came during the Arab League meeting in Manama, Bahrain, which was focused on Israel's aggression in Palestine and the ongoing Middle East crisis. The meeting was also attended by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
In his address, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the urgent need for a united Arab effort to stop the brutality against Palestinians and to ensure the swift delivery of humanitarian aid. He stated, "Israel is brutalizing our brothers in Palestine. We will make joint efforts to take effective steps to stop this brutality. In addition to this, it is our responsibility to make quick arrangements to provide relief there. Palestine should be recognized as an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed the urgency of the situation, describing the conflict in Palestine as an "open wound" that threatens to destabilize the entire region. He remarked, "The worst conflict I have ever seen is going on in Palestine. Not only civilians, but the lives of all the people there, starting from media workers, relief workers, are under threat."
The Arab leaders at the meeting expressed their frustration with Israel's continued military actions and their perceived negligence in implementing a ceasefire in Gaza. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi highlighted Israel's responsibility for the ceasefire and criticized Tel Aviv for repeatedly backing away from peace agreements. He noted, "Every time a decision comes close to being final, Israel backs away. And now they are preparing to attack Rafah, ignoring the calls of the world."
The meeting underscored a unified Arab stance on the necessity of recognizing Palestinian statehood and the need for immediate international action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The leaders called for a renewed and effective effort to establish peace and stability in the region, stressing that a viable solution involves acknowledging Palestine as an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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