Amid escalating tensions in West Asia and a deteriorating situation in Gaza, a delegation of Arab Islamic Foreign Ministers, including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki, is scheduled to visit Delhi this week.
The main agenda for the foreign ministers’ visit is to engage in discussions concerning the ongoing crisis in West Asia, with a meeting planned with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. The delegation, having earlier visited China, is expected to travel to other global capitals.
Since the Oct 7 attack by Hamas, resulting in the death of 1,200 Israelis, Israel has responded with major retaliation, reportedly killing over 13,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
India has welcomed international efforts to de-escalate the conflict and provide urgent humanitarian aid to Palestine. New Delhi condemned the Oct 7 attack, emphasizing its opposition to terrorism while advocating adherence to international humanitarian law. India has dispatched 70 tonnes of disaster relief materials, including 17 tonnes of medicines, to Palestine in two instalments.
India’s overarching policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict emphasizes advocacy for direct negotiations, leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine coexisting in peace with Israel.
Meanwhile …
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, during the BRICS plus virtual summit, called for global efforts to stop Israel’s actions in the besieged Gaza Strip. He urged all countries to cease exporting weapons to Israel and stressed Saudi Arabia’s rejection of forced Palestinian displacement. The Crown Prince emphasized the need for a serious and comprehensive peace process to establish a Palestinian state along the borders of 1967, renewing the rejection of Israeli operations in Gaza. He called for immediate aid entry into Gaza, citing brutal crimes against civilians and the humanitarian catastrophe, and emphasized the necessity of providing humanitarian corridors in Gaza.
Ministers from Arab and Islamic countries visited China on the first stop of a tour aimed at ending the war in Gaza, following decisions reached at a joint Arab and Islamic summit in Riyadh. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated that the tour’s purpose is to convey a clear message that a ceasefire must be announced immediately, and aid should be allowed in. The ministers aim to work on ending the crisis and the war on Gaza as soon as possible.
As diplomatic initiatives unfold, the international community is closely watching for developments that may lead to a peaceful resolution and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the region.
