Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan stated that discussing half-measures in Gaza is "ridiculous," emphasizing the need to focus on a two-state solution. In his remarks during a session of the World Economic Forum held in Riyadh this Sunday, he noted that Gaza will require 30 years to rebuild after the Israeli war, pointing out that a United Nations report indicated that debris removal would take 15 years.
He mentioned that "the Palestinian crisis has entered its seventh month, and we are still discussing whether humanitarian trucks can enter Gaza... this is unacceptable." He warned that "any expansion of military operations in Gaza will lead to dire consequences," referring to the anticipated Israeli assault on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
He clarified that "the situation is extremely difficult... there is a possibility of escalation... we are facing a significant expansion of military operations in Gaza... the situation in Gaza is a disaster in every sense of the word... a failure of the current global political system... a humanitarian catastrophe... we want a ceasefire (in Gaza) and to address the consequences of the conflict."
He continued, "It is in the interest of Palestinians, Israelis, the UN, the region, and the international community to find a solution to the Palestinian issue and avoid the suffering that occurred in Gaza, ensuring that this war is not repeated and that the bloodshed was not in vain."
The Saudi Foreign Minister added, "We cannot return to the same situation in two or three years... we do not want to focus only on the current crisis in Gaza... we want to concentrate on a two-state solution." He asserted that "talking about half-measures and the fate of 2.5 million people in Gaza without ensuring that war does not recur is absurd, and anyone who follows this approach is mistaken."
Bin Farhan further stated, "We need to move from words to actions, and this is what I will discuss with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken... we need steps on the ground, and the matter cannot be left to the conflicting parties."
Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah chaired a meeting in Riyadh today of the ministerial committee appointed by the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit regarding developments in Gaza.
Attending the meeting were Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein Sheikh, and Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalifi.
The meeting discussed mechanisms to intensify joint Arab and Islamic efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire to end the war on Gaza, ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and deliver sufficient and sustainable humanitarian assistance throughout the region, in addition to continuing efforts aimed at achieving international recognition of an independent Palestinian state that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people.
