GCC Leaders Slam Israel: Accused of International Law Breaches in Gaza

• GCC condemns Israel for “overt violations” of international law.
• Leaders express dissatisfaction with Israeli aggression in Gaza, citing forced displacement and destruction.
• Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman leads Saudi delegation at the GCC summit in Qatar.

The GCC members have denounced Israel for engaging in “overt violations” of international law.

In a statement issued at the end of the 44th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Tuesday, the leaders of the six nations condemned Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, “which have led to the forced displacement of the civilian population, and the destruction of civilian facilities and infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools, health facilities, and places of worship.”

The statement of declaration went on to say such actions were “in clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law,” and they expressed their dissatisfaction with the “blatant Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people”.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman led the Saudi delegation at the summit held in Qatar, where representatives from the six Gulf nations were present.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, joining the gathering, highlighted a trade volume of $23 billion between Turkey and the GCC countries.

He went on to condemn Israel’s continued bombardment of the Gaza Strip, adding: “

Netanyahu is committing war crimes against humanity in Gaza.”

And he said that Netanyahu “is pushing the entire region into danger for the sake of his political future.”

فيديو | #ولي_العهد الأمير محمد بن سلمان في قطر لترؤس وفد المملكة في #القمة_الخليجية #ولي_العهد_في_قطر #الإخبارية pic.twitter.com/AnXXqja4j4

— قناة الإخبارية (@alekhbariyatv) December 5, 2023

The meeting will be attended by senior officials from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Key topics on the leaders’ agenda include discussions on the Israel-Hamas conflict and fostering regional cooperation.

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in his opening remarks, urged the UN Security Council to compel Israel to return to negotiations regarding the Gaza war.

“It is shameful for the international community to allow this heinous crime to continue for nearly two months, during which the systematic and deliberate killing of innocent civilians continues, including women and children,” he said at the summit.

The Qatari ruler said his country was “constantly working to renew” the truce, which he added was “not an alternative to a permanent ceasefire”.

He called for “an international investigation into the massacres committed by Israel” and condemned the targeting of civilians of all nationalities and religions.

At the conclusion of the summit, the GCC council issued a declaration, with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani emphasizing their current focus on ending the Gaza war. He stated that ongoing mediation talks are dedicated to this objective.

The minister reiterated the unacceptable nature of blocking humanitarian aid to the besieged strip.

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