MADRID — The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, mandated by the Extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, convened a high-level meeting in Madrid on Sunday, to discuss the escalating situation in Gaza and the West Bank and to coordinate efforts toward a sustainable peace solution. The meeting was chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and attended by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Nuh Yilmaz. They held expanded talks with the Madrid Group and several European countries, focusing on halting the war in Gaza, ending the humanitarian crisis, and advancing preparations for the upcoming high-level international peace conference on the two-state solution, to be co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France at the United Nations in New York this June. The committee stressed the importance of joint coordination to ensure the success of the peace conference, calling for clear political, economic, and security commitments that will support the realization of a two-state solution. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution based on international resolutions, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They also welcomed the efforts of the Madrid Group and European nations in supporting these peace objectives. The committee expressed support for the ongoing Qatari-Egyptian-American mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire, secure the release of hostages and detainees, and emphasized the urgent need to lift the blockade on Gaza, reopen all crossings unconditionally, and ensure uninterrupted humanitarian aid delivery. Condemning the ongoing violations committed by Israeli forces against civilians in Gaza, the committee called for upholding international law and international humanitarian law. The members also reaffirmed their backing for early recovery efforts and the reconstruction of Gaza under the Arab Reconstruction Plan adopted at the Cairo Summit. They voiced support for the upcoming international conference Egypt plans to host in cooperation with the Palestinian government and the United Nations to mobilize reconstruction efforts. The committee also praised recent reform efforts by the Palestinian government, reaffirming steadfast support for all initiatives that serve the security, stability, and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
