DOHA: Qatar’s ruler hit out at “shameful” international inaction over the Zionist-Hamas war in Gaza as he opened the 44th Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Doha on Tuesday. “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,” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said.

Qatar was a key mediator in negotiations that resulted in a seven-day truce, which saw scores of Zionist captives exchanged for Palestinians prisoners and humanitarian aid, until it ended on Friday. Qatar’s ruler said his country was “constantly working to renew” the truce, but added this was “not an alternative to a permanent ceasefire”.

He called for “an international investigation into the massacres committed by (the Zionist entity)” and for the Security Council “to assume its legal responsibility and act to end this barbaric war, and compel (the Zionist entity) to return to credible negotiations to achieve a just solution to the Palestinian issue”.

Some members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have moved towards closer ties with the Zionist entity in recent years. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalized ties with the Zionist entity in 2020, and Saudi Arabia was seen as close to following suit. But the war has put a halt to these diplomatic efforts.

In a joint statement, the GCC expressed “deep concern” with what it called “blatant (Zionist) aggression” in Gaza. The council praised the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States in negotiating the humanitarian pause, urging a fresh truce “immediately” to “achieve a complete and sustainable ceasefire”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the session and accused the Zionist entity of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity in Gaza”, which he said “should not be left unanswered”. Both Turkey and Qatar have been vocal supporters of the Palestinian cause and have opened channels of communication with Hamas.

GCC leaders also approved the unified GCC visa during the summit. Interior ministers of GCC states were authorized to take necessary measures to enforce the Schengen-style tourist visa, which would allow holders free access across all six Gulf Cooperation Council member states.

Representative of HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, headed the Kuwaiti delegation to the GCC summit. During the session, ministers reviewed issues on the agenda and topics concerned with supporting and strengthening the process of joint Gulf action in various fields and at all levels.

The ministers also delved into the decisions and recommendations submitted to the GCC Supreme Council, in a way that would enhance the historical process of joint Gulf action, and discuss the most important regional and international issues, most notably the dangerous war in Gaza and the numerous violations on occupied Palestinian lands and their sanctities. – Agencies