Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki announced today, Monday, that there are Qatari, Egyptian, American, European, and Spanish efforts to extend the temporary ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip. After calling for a permanent ceasefire to prevent an increase in civilian casualties, al-Maliki stated that the current truce may be extended for one, two, or three days, but added that no one knows for how long. Al-Maliki made these remarks during a joint press conference with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares at the Union for the Mediterranean forum in Barcelona.
For his part, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares viewed the Palestinian Authority as the only possible and reliable partner in pursuing peace in the Middle East. Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, confirmed that the four-day ceasefire is an important first step towards a solution to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, "but more is needed to find a way out of the crisis." Borrell expressed regret at Israel's absence from the forum on Monday. He hoped that the agreed ceasefire from last week would "last for a few more days," calling on Israel not to "reoccupy" Gaza, stating that both Palestinians and Israelis have a "equal and legitimate right to the same land." He added that establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza is "the best guarantee for Israel's security and peace."
The Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, called for the need to work on a credible peace plan to end the catastrophic situation in Gaza. He asserted that "Tel Aviv bears the responsibility for all the violence we see in its war on the Gaza Strip," emphasizing the importance of a two-state solution to end the escalating conflict.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry confirmed that "Israel is taking steps that lead to the displacement of Palestinians, which is internationally unacceptable." During a meeting with the Arab-Islamic ministerial committee and the Spanish Foreign Minister on Monday, Shoukry stated that "countries opposing displacement are not taking adequate measures to prevent it," emphasizing that a ceasefire in Gaza will only be realized if Israel understands that it is in its interest, which will only be achieved through international pressure.
Shoukry noted that "the amount of aid entering Gaza is very weak, due to obstructive Israeli measures," and for this reason, Arab and Islamic countries have submitted a draft resolution in the Security Council. The Saudi Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that the meeting included Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and the Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
The statement indicated that the meeting discussed developments in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings, "and what the humanitarian ceasefire achieved by releasing some prisoners," in addition to discussing efforts to establish a sustainable ceasefire.
For his part, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi pointed out that work on the two-state solution must begin now "with a guarantee of an end to this brutal aggression." He stated, "We all agree on the necessity of respecting international humanitarian law, that displacement is unacceptable, and that there should be no more killing." He viewed what is happening in Gaza as falling within the legal definition of genocide.
The Jordanian Minister renewed the call for extending the current ceasefire in Gaza and expressed regret that "some still refuse to support this request," stating, "The Palestinian people should decide who governs them, and any discussions about Gaza after the war should focus on the West Bank and Gaza as one unit." Delegations from EU member states, the Middle East, and North Africa gathered on Monday in Barcelona to discuss the Gaza war as the fragile ceasefire approaches its end. 42 delegations from member states of the "Union for the Mediterranean" forum are participating, often led by foreign ministers.
