The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Sunday expressed “deep concern” over the breakdown of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement released after a meeting in Cairo with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
The announcement followed discussions between foreign ministers from Jordan, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Bahrain, and the UAE’s minister of state, alongside the secretaries-general of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The committee underscored the urgency of addressing the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories.
It expressed “deep concern” over the Gaza ceasefire breakdown, which has led to significant civilian casualties from recent airstrikes.
Participants deplored “the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure,” urging “an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including the release of hostages and detainees,” the statement said.
They emphasized the need to advance to the second phase of the agreement, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2735.
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2735 on June 10, 2024, calling on Hamas to accept a proposed agreement for a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire aimed at halting the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.
The group demanded “swift, sustainable, and unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid across Gaza, alongside the restoration of essential services like electricity and water desalination plants, with all restrictions lifted,” the joint statement said.
The ministers welcomed an Arab Gaza recovery and reconstruction plan presented at a Cairo summit on March 4, later endorsed by the OIC and supported by the European Council.
