CAIRO: The Arab League called on Wednesday for its Economic and Social Council to develop plans and programs in cooperation with the League’s agencies and partners to mitigate as much as possible the Zionist occupation aggression’s economic and social impacts on Gaza, with a future vision of normalcy. This came in the opening speech by the League’s Assistant Secretary-General Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh during the 114th session of the League’s Economic and Social Council (chaired by the UAE) to prepare for the Council’s ministerial meeting on Thursday.
Abu Ghazaleh said that the current Council session is held amid "unprecedented exceptional circumstances” facing the Arab region due to the continued occupation aggression practices in Palestine, southern Lebanon, and some areas in Arab countries. The brutal aggression has become the foundation of social, humanitarian, and economic tragedy witnessed by many Arab countries as the Zionists disregarded all international legitimacy resolutions,” she added.
Abu Ghazaleh explained that the difficult social and humanitarian conditions resulting from this aggression have destroyed the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip, displaced families and children, and the number of martyrs and injured is increasing around the clock. In this regard, she pointed to the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s announcement of the risen number of martyrs that reached 40,819 deaths and the injured to 94,291 since October 7 in a tragedy — the first of its kind in history.
She stressed the importance of focusing on ensuring a decent life for Arab citizens within a framework of social justice and by strengthening Arab efforts aimed at implementing Arab and international resolutions and charters related to sustainable economic and social development. Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Economy, Jumaa Al Kait, stressed in his speech the importance of strengthening joint Arab action in the economic field and developing policies that serve the shared economy as well as Arab countries.
Al-Kait said that the Council’s meeting will discuss several matters, including following up on implementing decisions of the previous session, reviewing the latest developments in Arab work, the Arab Free Trade Area, and the Arab Customs Union, activating investments between Arab countries, and joint Arab work. For her part, Secretary-General of the Jordanian Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply Dana Al-Zoubi said in her speech that this is the second session of the Economic and Social Council to be held in light of the brutal aggression on Palestine.
Al-Zoubi stressed the importance of joint Arab action to face the challenges "that no longer exclude anyone” as the Arab region is affected by regional instability and the need to follow a "collective approach” in work as the individual approach will not suffice to avoid economic crises. She called for activating the Arab Free Trade Area and Customs Union, expressing hope for increasing the rate of inter-Arab trade and enhancing Arab cooperation and investments. The Kuwaiti delegation to the meeting is chaired by Acting Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance for Economic Affairs Talal Al-Namash.
Meanwhile, the Arab Parliament strongly condemned the offensive statements made by Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, considering them misleading claims aimed at hindering Egypt’s effort to mediate for a ceasefire and stopping the aggression on Gaza. In a statement on Wednesday, the Parliament stressed that the words of Netanyahu reflect the internal failure of the Zionist occupation and help reveal their false claims that are intended to deceive the world’s public opinion from the occupation’s politics. The Arab Parliament reaffirmed their full support and solidarity with Egypt in its efforts aimed at achieving security, peace, and stability in the region, adding that it’s appreciated at all levels. — KUNA