RIYADH: An Arab-Islamic summit hosted by Saudi Arabia on Saturday called for an end to the war in Gaza and rejected justifying Israel's actions against Palestinians as self-defence.
The summit condemned "Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, war crimes and barbaric and inhumane massacres by the occupation government," a final communique said.
The communique also called for an end to the siege on Gaza, allowing humanitarian aid into the enclave and halting arms exports to Israel.
Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, headed the Sultanate of Oman’s delegation to the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit which was held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories.
Speaking at the summit, Sayyid Badr said he was honoured to express the sincere greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and his wishes for success for the summit in Riyadh.
"The Palestinian people are facing a dreadful humanitarian suffering, heart-wrenching and painful, amid the stagnation of the UN Security Council and its failure so far to take decisive action to stop this brutal war waged by Israel on the Palestinian Gaza Strip, under the pretext of self-defence," he said.
Self-defence does not justify killing people, displacing and deporting innocent civilians, killing unarmed children, women and men, demolishing homes, places of worship and facilities, schools, hospitals, cutting off services, depriving residents of water, food, fuel and medicine, and imposing an unjust and stifling siege on the Gaza Strip.
It truly saddens us, the positions of some countries who are our friends, which defend international law and its application in other parts of the world, while they do not condemn Israel's violation of the same international law in relation to Palestine!
The Sultanate of Oman, from this esteemed platform, reaffirms its steadfast position in supporting the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to life, freedom, dignity and self-determination.
Today and every day, we reaffirm our sincere stand with conscience, calling for an end to this senseless war, opening and facilitating humanitarian corridors for the entry of all humanitarian and relief needs into the Gaza Strip, lifting the siege imposed on it, releasing hostages and detainees, and urging countries supporting Israel to avoid double standards in applying international law.
The only solution to the Palestinian issue lies in political action aimed at ending the occupation, establishing an independent Palestinian state, with its borders as of June 4, 1967, and its capital East Jerusalem, in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions, ensuring justice, security and peace for all.
In the Sultanate of Oman, we affirm our continuous efforts in serving the causes of security and peace, believing that we are an integral part of this interconnected world, sharing interests and destiny with its peoples.
Therefore, standing by the just Palestinian cause is a duty incumbent upon every discerning person in our contemporary world.
The situation has reached its limit, the violence has lengthened, and it is time for the voice of truth to resound with truth and wisdom until Palestine obtains its rights guaranteed by international law and becomes a full-fledged member of the international community, a free and proud state on its land.
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