ShareRIYADH: The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Al-Budaiwi emphasized the importance of the international community’s role in supporting the UN to implement its resolutions, particularly concerning the Palestinian issue. This came during Al-Budaiwi’s meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of his participation in the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the GCC and the UN in various fields, support sustainable development efforts, and address the latest regional and international developments of mutual interest, particularly the crisis in Gaza and the rest of the Palestinian territories. Al-Budaiwi praised the efforts made by the UN General Assembly in preparing for the 79th session, also appreciating the significant role it plays in addressing current regional and international issues, supporting peace and development efforts, and enhancing international cooperation to tackle crises.
For his part, Guterres commended the role played by GCC countries regionally and internationally, as well as the national achievements attained by GCC countries at all levels, stating that this has positioned them among the advanced countries in many international indicators, such as sustainability, infrastructure, and development.
Quad summit
Meanwhile, leaders of the Quad group stated that the massive loss of civilian lives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza are unacceptable, urging the release of hostages, which they believe could lead to an immediate and long-term ceasefire. In a joint statement issued Saturday following their summit, held at US President Joe Biden’s home in Delaware, the Quad members—representing the US, Australia, India, and Japan—expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation.
The summit saw the participation of Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. At the heart of their message was an urgent call for a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. The leaders stressed that preventing the conflict from spiraling further across the region is critical, calling on all sides to respect international law, including humanitarian guidelines, and welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Quad leaders urged all parties to take swift action to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, and ensure safe and rapid aid delivery. They underlined that the future reconstruction of Gaza must have robust international backing while warning against the risk of regional escalation. The leaders reiterated their commitment to a sovereign Palestinian state within a two-state solution framework, calling for an end to unilateral actions like settlement expansions and acts of violent extremism that threaten peace efforts on both sides. The Quad, originally established in 2007 as a security dialogue between the US, India, Japan, and Australia, resumed its activities in 2017 after a long hiatus amid rising tensions in the AsiaPacific region, with China and the Korean Peninsula frequently in the spotlight. — KUNA
