Baghdad: Foreign ministers from 31 Arab and Islamic countries, along with the Secretaries-General of the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, have issued a joint statement condemning recent remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The statement, initiated by Iraq as the chair of the 34th Arab Summit, labels Netanyahu’s comments regarding the so-called ‘Greater Israel’ as violations of international law and threats to Arab national security and regional stability.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the statement also denounces Israeli settlement plans in the ‘E1’ area and the positions of extremist Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich, who opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state. The foreign ministers view these actions as assaults on Palestinian rights and breaches of UN Security Council resolutions, notably Resolution 2334.

The joint statement warns against Israeli policies of annexation, attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites, and forced displacements in occupied territories. It underscores that these practices hinder prospects for achieving a just peace in the region.

On humanitarian issues, the statement condemns what it describes as crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the blockade, and the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid. The ministers reject any efforts to displace Palestinians and reaffirm the necessity for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, advocating for the implementation of a joint Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan.

The ministers emphasize that Gaza is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories and stress the importance of empowering the State of Palestine to govern both the West Bank and Gaza. They urge the international community, particularly the UN Security Council and the United States, to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities to end the aggression, protect the Palestinian people, and hold accountable those responsible for crimes.