Saudi Foreign Minister Calls for Recognition of State of Palestine and Denounces Forced Displacement

Riyadh: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, reiterated the resolute rejection of Islamic countries towards the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. During his presidential speech at the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-CFM) in Jeddah, Prince Faisal emphasized the urgent need to recognize the State of Palestine and accept the two-state solution. The session was convened to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Prince Faisal expressed the firm rejection of the 57-member pan-Islamic body toward any forcible displacement of Palestinians, and stressed the importance of facilitating the immediate and safe return of those displaced. He warned against the Israeli plans to expand military operations in Rafah, stating that it would only bring further suffering to the unarmed civilians targeted in Gaza.

Highlighting Saudi Arabia's direct bilateral contacts with many countries worldwide and its role within the ministerial committee formed by the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit, Prince Faisal called upon the international community and all parties involved to take responsibility in stopping the war, preventing the forced displacement of civilians, and protecting innocent lives.

The minister lauded the positive developments in some countries' positions, with a growing understanding of the scale of the disaster and an increase in the number of countries calling for an immediate ceasefire. He urged those countries to recognize the State of Palestine and continue pressuring Israel to halt the war and embrace the two-state solution.

Moreover, Prince Faisal emphasized the necessity of imposing sanctions against extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank and holding accountable those responsible for the violence in the region.

Regarding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Prince Faisal pledged support and warned against attempts to undermine its crucial humanitarian role. He urged all supporters to uphold their role in reinforcing humanitarian missions for Palestinian refugees in Gaza. The minister also called on countries that have suspended their support to reconsider their decisions, emphasizing the importance of UNRWA's continued provision of basic necessities to mitigate the humanitarian crisis and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Prince Faisal concluded by renewing the urgency of ending the Palestinian people's suffering, providing hope, and ensuring their rights to live in safety and self-determination. He emphasized the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.