GCC Ministerial Council Affirms Support for Palestine Sovereignty

The 157^th session of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has affirmed its position on the centrality of the Palestinian cause and supports the sovereignty of Palestine. It firmly reiterated the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Al-Quds as its capital. 

The GCC Ministerial Council Meeting, which was held on September 7 in Riyadh, called for the guarantee of refugee rights in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy resolutions. Members stressed the need to redouble efforts of the international community to resolve the conflict. 

Moreover, the Council commended Saudi Arabia’s decision to appoint an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Non-Resident Ambassador to the State of Palestine and Counsel General in Al-Quds. The GCC once again upheld its stance to protecting Islamic sanctities and supporting the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian presence in Al-Quds. The Council also highlighted the Australian government’s announcement to use the term “occupied Palestinian territories” to describe the Israeli occupation “illegal” in accordance with international law. 

The GCC condemned Israel for repeated incursions in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying it’s a serious violation of international law. The Ministerial Council highlighted the historical and legal status quo in Al-Quds and its sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It called on the international community to help stop the targeting of the Palestinian presence in the city of Al-Quds, expulsion of Palestinians from their homes, and Israeli attempts to change the legal character and demographic composition. 

Welcome Saudi-Iran Relations

The council applauded the normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and called on Tehran to not exceed the rate of uranium enrichment required for peaceful uses. It affirmed the GCC’s readiness to cooperate and deal effectively with the issue. The Ministerial Meeting stressed the need for participation in all regional and international negotiations, including Iranian nuclear program, security issues and concerns of the member states, and good neighborliness policies. 

The Council congratulated the UAE for its progress in Space, highlighting the historical feat of astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi for successfully completing the longest Arab space mission – six months aboard the International Space Station. 

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Furthermore, the Council rejected Iran’s occupation of UAE’s three islands – Greater Tunb and Abu Musa. Supporting the UAE’s sovereignty, it highlighted Iran’s actions as null, void and having no effect on the right of the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates. The Ministerial Council urged Iran to resolve the matter through direct negotiations or taking it to International Court of Justice.