GCC Ministerial Council condemns Israeli aggression

The GCC Ministerial Council condemned the continued Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the rejection of any justifications for the aggression as self-defence, during the group’s 161st session in Riyadh on Monday.

The Council issued a statement following the end of the most recent session, which covered various regional issues, most notably the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

“The Ministerial Council holds Israel legally responsible before the international community for its ongoing violations and attacks against innocent civilians, and considers them war crimes according to international humanitarian law, which resulted in the killing of thousands of civilians in the Gaza Strip, most of whom were women and children, in violation of international law and international humanitarian law,” the statement said.

The statement went on to condemn Israel’s stance on remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor. Israeli forces deployed troops to the 14 km-long area bordering Egypt earlier this year. Their withdrawal has been a point of contention during the ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

“The Ministerial Council stressed the importance of preparing a comprehensive plan for the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza upon the end of the war in Gaza, and stressed the GCC’s rejection of the idea of ​​separating Gaza from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the statement said.

The Council also welcomed the U.K’s partial suspension of arm export licenses to Israel, noting the decision is in line with resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN, and International Court of Justice.