MUSCAT: In a significant diplomatic statement during a meeting held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Qatabi, Head of the International Organizations Department at the Omani Foreign Ministry, emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Leading the Sultanate of Oman’s delegation, he underscored the importance of halting the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and called for unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of civilians affected by the conflict. He strongly condemned collective punishment and the systematic denial of essential resources such as food, water, and medical care.
His Excellency Al Qatabi highlighted the continued humanitarian tragedies caused by the Israeli occupation, including the destruction of homes, displacement, and deprivation of basic needs. He reaffirmed Oman’s steadfast position in supporting the Palestinian cause and ensuring the Palestinian people can access their legitimate rights, which have been severely obstructed due to ongoing military aggression. The statement also drew attention to Israel’s attempts to impose sovereignty over the West Bank and exercise total military control over the Gaza Strip, escalating human rights violations and forced displacement of civilians.
Oman condemned all illegal settlement plans and measures undertaken by Israeli forces, emphasizing that such actions violate international legitimacy and United Nations resolutions. His Excellency stressed that the continuation of these practices would intensify the humanitarian crisis and diminish prospects for achieving a just and lasting peace. He called on the international community to act responsibly by holding Israel accountable and ensuring the protection of Palestinian civilians from further aggression.
Furthermore, Sheikh Al Qatabi reiterated the Palestinian right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign state based on the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. Oman reaffirmed its support for previous international efforts, including the Palestine Summit, the Gaza Reconstruction Plan adopted in Cairo, and the Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Issue held in New York. The Sultanate emphasized the importance of taking tangible steps toward resolving the Palestinian issue and achieving the two-state solution.
