By Faten Omar

KUWAIT: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah underscored Kuwait’s enduring solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemned the airstrikes by the Zionist entity in Gaza, affirming the alignment between the Kuwaiti leadership, government and citizens on this issue, demonstrating a strong and consistent stance.

The minister’s emphatic statement during a press conference on Sunday highlights Kuwait’s unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause for over six decades. This enduring support has been a defining aspect of Kuwait’s foreign policy, emphasizing the country’s dedication to promoting justice and stability. There is no room for doubt that Kuwait’s position on the Palestinian cause remains steadfast, robust and clear.

Sheikh Salem affirmed Kuwait opposes normalization with the Zionist entity and demands the independent establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state based on the borders of June 1967 and international resolutions. “Today, we are witnessing the 23rd day of the war in Gaza. What the Zionist entity is doing is a war of revenge, not a defensive war. We are witnessing collective punishment and war crimes in Gaza. In 23 days, 7,000 people have been martyred, including 3,000 children. How is it possible to kill 3,000 children without considering it a war crime?” he questioned.

Hamas’ armed wing said Sunday its fighters were engaged in “heavy fighting” with Zionist forces in Gaza after Zionist military deployed more ground forces across the Palestinian territory. “Our fighters are currently engaged in heavy fighting with machine-guns and anti-tank weapons with the invading occupation (Zionist) forces in northwest Gaza,” the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement. In an earlier statement the group said two Zionist tanks had caught fire after they were targeted by its fighters.

Zionist forces continued to pound north Gaza with air and artillery shelling on Sunday evening. The health ministry in Gaza says the unrelenting retaliatory Zionist bombardment has killed more than 8,000 people, mainly civilians and half of them children. Zionist forces also killed five Palestinians Sunday across the occupied West Bank, health officials said, raising to more than 110 the death toll in surging violence there since the start of the Gaza war. The Palestinian health ministry said five

people aged 29 to 35 were shot dead by Zionist forces at dawn, two of them in Nablus’s Askar refugee camp.

The other incidents took place in Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah, Bethlehem’s Dheisheh refugee camp and in Tamun north of Nablus.

Sheikh Salem criticized the double standards of some countries in dealing with the situation in Gaza and expressed his regret that the United Nations Security Council, responsible for global security, is unable to halt the war in Gaza. Sheikh Salem stated that Kuwait has three demands: An immediate cessation of the war, the facilitation of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the resolution of the Palestinian issue. He stressed that the only way to end the violence is to address the root cause.

He highlighted Kuwait’s proactive and persistent approach to addressing the situation in Gaza and its commitment to maintaining communication with international organizations and countries, underlining its dedication to diplomacy as a means to resolve the crisis. Sheikh Salem praised Egypt for responding to Kuwait’s request for aid to be delivered to Gaza. He noted that the aid is stored in the Egyptian city of Al-Arish and that a sixth relief aid plane has departed for Al-Arish for delivery to Gaza, with more to follow.

Regarding demands not to receive the new American envoy, the minister said Kuwait has accepted the appointment of the new American ambassador, and her accreditation has been approved by HH the Amir. He said the delay in the US diplomat’s presence in Kuwait is attributed to matters in Washington. “Once the ambassador arrives in Kuwait, her credentials as ambassador will be approved,” he affirmed.

In response to criticism from the ministers of nine Arab countries in their joint statement, he explained that joint statements are consensus-based and represent a common formula agreed upon by all. Kuwait is committed to unanimous Gulf and Arab consensus and will not join any statement without collective agreement. “The statement is important and reflects the demands Kuwait agrees on,” he said.

When asked if Kuwait is facing pressure due to its position on Gaza, Sheikh Salem affirmed that Kuwait’s position is unwavering and does not yield to external pressures. Kuwait categorically rejects the displacement that has occurred in Gaza. In response to a question about economic pressure on the US if the Gaza conflict continues, he suggested that such matters should be discussed with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League. Economic pressures should be jointly considered, especially if the conflict in Gaza persists.

Furthermore, Sheikh Salem mentioned that soon Palestinian teachers will be allowed to bring their close family members to the country.