Today, the work of the first meeting of the Global Alliance for Implementation of the Two-State Solution continued in the capital, Riyadh, with the participation of His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs and General Supervisor of the Public Diplomacy Deputyship, as well as senior officials from other countries and international organizations.
During his address, Dr. Al-Rassi emphasized the significance of this first meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-state solution, convened at a time when the Palestinian people are enduring ongoing suffering due to Israeli aggression and the widespread destruction inflicted by Israeli war machine upon people and places alike. He highlighted the audacity of the occupying state in violating international law and international humanitarian law, as well as the international community’s failure to halt and deter Israeli aggression. This includes the Security Council’s historical responsibility to uphold the ethical and legal rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to initiate a serious process for a comprehensive peace, preventing the further expansion of conflict in the region.
Dr. Al-Rassi underscored the importance of engaging participating countries in fostering a multilateral political path to achieve peace based on the two-state solution and an end to the Israeli occupation. Grounded in the principles of international law, UN resolutions, the peace process frameworks, and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative under the “land-for-peace” principle, this seeks to end the suffering of the Palestinian people that has spanned for eight decades, enabling them to live in freedom and dignity in their independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
His Excellency renewed the Kingdom’s call for all peace-loving countries to join this Alliance while also appreciating recent decisions by several friendly countries to recognize the State of Palestine. He urged other nations to expedite this decision, as it bolsters Palestinian rights and accelerates the realization of the two-state solution and peace.
Dr. Al-Rassi stated, “The continuation of the occupying power’s crimes against the Palestinian people will only widen the conflict and further endanger regional and global security and stability.” He called on the international community, particularly the permanent members of the Security Council, to use their powers to uphold security and peace, compelling Israel to halt its aggression and allow immediate and unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid.
His Excellency also expressed the Kingdom’s strongest condemnation of the Israeli Knesset’s decision to ban the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), considering it a violation of international law and a dangerous precedent that contravenes member states’ obligations under the UN Charter, undermining the multilateral international system. He emphasized that this latest move by Israel, the occupying state, seeks to dismantle the resilience of the Palestinian people on their land, representing a desperate attempt at forced displacement.
Dr. Al-Rassi reiterated the Kingdom’s absolute rejection of the continued systematic political and military targeting by Israeli occupation authorities of UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, which continuously endangers the lives of their workers. He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for UNRWA's humanitarian mission to assist Palestinian refugees.
In closing, His Excellency expressed hope for the success of this initiative, noting the enthusiasm shown for joining this Alliance.
The convening of its first meeting in Riyadh serves as a sign of renewed trust in multilateral efforts, a testament to the sincere desire for peace, and a stop towards ending the brutal conflict in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian Territories.
The meeting was attended by the Counsellor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Manal Radwan.
