Qatar calls for a ceasefire in Israel’s war in Gaza, Lebanon at the EU-GCC summit | Israel-Palestine Conflicts News

The prime minister of Qatar has called for a ceasefire in Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon and reiterated the importance of the establishment of a Palestinian state in a meeting with European Union leaders in Brussels, Belgium.

The 27-nation EU wants to work closely with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – in resolving conflicts in the Middle East and -Ukraine.

In his first speech at the first EU-GCC summit on Wednesday, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar expressed the need for the creation of an “independent and independent” Palestinian state that exists in partnership with Israel. He also called for a ceasefire in Israel’s ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

“The war that is destroying Israel today in Palestine and Lebanon has normalized war crimes. That is something we will not accept,” said Al Thani.

“We need a solution to these conflicts. We need to find a solution to the Palestinian cause on the basis of international legitimacy and the 1967 borders…

The summit comes more than a year after Israel launched an offensive on Gaza after the Palestinian group Hamas led an attack in southern Israel, killing at least 1,139 people, most of them civilians, according to Al Jazeera based on official Israeli figures. , and seized everywhere. Another 250 as hostages.

Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 42,400 people, most of them women and children, according to the Palestinian Authority, and displaced more than 90 percent of the area’s 2.3 million residents, many more than once.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israel for more than a year, saying it was responding to Israel’s land and air attacks on Gaza.

The Israeli military last month escalated its war with Hezbollah, targeting several top leaders in the organization, increasing Israeli bombings in Lebanon and sending ground troops to the south of the country.

At least 1,350 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel stepped up its offensive last month, according to Lebanese authorities.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned of an escalation of the war in the Middle East and called for an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza and Lebanon.

“Russia’s war against Ukraine and the terrorist attack led by Hamas against Israel on October 7 have undermined regional security in Europe and the Gulf,” he said.

“We need to do everything we can and combine all our communication skills to stop the most dangerous escalation now that Iran is launching a major attack on Israel, or the Houthis are attacking our ships,” he added.

Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting on the conference, said the leaders’ opening remarks gave the impression that the escalating violence in the Middle East is becoming an “urgent” problem for the international community.

“If this continues, it could worsen into a wider conflict that could drag the Iranian people into a vicious cycle of tit for tat with the Israelis. That would be a time when the international community would be powerless to stop this situation,” he said.

The presence of Saudi Arabia’s supreme ruler, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – confirmed at the last minute – raised hopes about the GCC side’s push for a two-state solution.

“The year 2002 was the day when the Saudis launched the Arab Peace Initiative, which wanted all Arab nations to recognize Israel so that the Israelis would accept an independent Palestinian state, [the] the same statement was repeated by the emir of Qatar,” said Ahelbarra.

The Russia-Ukraine war is another priority

Russia’s war against Ukraine was expected to intensify at the meetings, with the EU trying to gain international support to isolate Russia.

Although opinions differ on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – in particular, the implementation of Western sanctions and the EU’s push to punish Iran for intensifying Moscow’s war effort – there was hope for closer cooperation in that regard.

“I hope we can work together and count on you to stop this illegal Russian war,” von der Leyen told the Gulf leaders.

While Brussels wants its GCC partners to agree to tougher language on Russian military aggression, it does not expect them to fully accept its position of blaming Moscow.

Al Thani’s opening speech made a brief reference to the conflict on European soil.

“Regarding the Ukraine-Russia war, the position of the GCC is based on the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, which preserves the sovereignty of states, their territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of the country,” said the emir.

Discussions at the conference are expected to touch on trade and investment cooperation and visa liberalization.