RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Al-Budaiwi Thursday emphatically condemned Zionist occupation Knesset’s resolution that rejected the establishment of a Palestinian statehood. In a press statement, Al-Budaiwi billed the move as an obvious breach of relevant international resolutions and proof of the occupation’s insistence on fueling tensions and jeopardizing regional and world security and stability.

He called on the international community to necessarily decry and condemn this unjust resolution, which reflects occupation forces’ intention to widen the conflict. The GCC chief, further, restated the GCC member countries’ support for the establishment of a Palestinian statehood on the June 4, 1967 border, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Earlier in the day, the Zionist occupation’s Knesset (parliament) reportedly passed a resolution that overwhelmingly rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Knesset passed the resolution with 68 votes in favor and just nine against it, according to Zionist occupation media reports.

Also, Arab League Secretary General Ahmad Abul-Gheit strongly condemned the Knesset’s vote to reject Palestinian statehood. In a statement on Thursday, Abul-Gheit said this is an attempt by the occupation forces to “legalize” its occupation of Palestine and deny the rights of Palestinians. The move, which came at a time when Zionist Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque, is a new violation of previously-signed agreements and the international law, he added.

GAZA: Hussein Abu Assi, 67, walks out of his house that was heavily damaged by Zionist bombardment, in the town of Bani Suheila near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. – AFP

Terrible war must end

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres said that the “parties must reach such a deal now...and this terrible war must end”. Addressing ambassadors on behalf of Guterres, Chef-de-Cabinet Courtenay Rattray warned, before a UN Security Council session on the situation on the Middle East, that humanitarian support in the besieged Gaza Strip is about to fully collapse. Rattray reiterated the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

“Rafah is in ruins - and the Rafah crossing remains closed, further hampering humanitarian operations. Almost two million people have been displaced - nearly the entire population of Gaza - and many of them multiple times, Rattray said. Rattray also voiced deep concern over the situation in the occupied West Bank, amid high levels of violence by Zionist security forces, settlers and Palestinian militants.

“The seizure of large land parcels in strategic areas and changes to planning, land management and governance are expected to significantly accelerate settlement expansion,” he added. Zionist administrative and legal steps are also “steadily altering” the geography of the occupied West Bank, Rattray said. He further informed ambassadors of the issuance of two military orders at the end of May, which transferred powers to, and appointed, a civilian deputy in Zionist Civil Administration.

“This move is another significant advance in the ongoing transfer of authority over many aspects of daily life in the occupied West Bank”, he said. “If left unaddressed, these measures risk causing irreparable damage...we must change course. All settlement activity must cease immediately. Zionist settlements are a flagrant violation of international law and a key obstacle to peace.” — KUNA