Cairo, April 23 (Petra) – Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, stating that the killing, starvation, and forced displacement of Palestinians amount to a systematic war of genocide. He described the international community’s silence in the face of such brutality as "shameful and disgraceful."

Aboul Gheit made his remarks during the opening of the 163rd regular session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi.

He outlined the dire situation in Gaza since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, noting that nearly 2,000 Palestinians have been killed under an intensified siege that completely blocks humanitarian aid. He emphasized that ethnic cleansing has now become an explicit goal of the Israeli campaign, pointing to international discussions of displacement scenarios that have emboldened Israeli far-right factions to impose new on-ground realities and reoccupy parts of Gaza.

The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the late Pope Francis, lauding his unwavering humanitarian stance and consistent calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. Aboul Gheit described the Pope as a "unique voice of conscience" in an era where moral values have eroded for many.

He stressed that the Arab proposal put forward during the Cairo Summit in March offers a comprehensive and actionable framework for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, paving the way toward a two-state solution. He called on member states to rally behind this vision at the upcoming UN international conference in July, which will be co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France.

Warning of Israel’s broader regional ambitions, Aboul Gheit accused extremist elements in the Israeli government of seeking not only to dominate Palestinian territory but also to annex land from other Arab countries under false security pretexts. He highlighted the need for collective Arab action and a renewed commitment to pan-Arab solidarity to confront such escalating threats.

He concluded by affirming that Arab unity remains the "safe harbor" in turbulent times, and Arab identity continues to be a source of strength and support amid growing uncertainties.

//Petra// AF

23/04/2025 23:04:08