His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Engineer Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, met in Jeddah with Her Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, Dr. Varsine Aghabekian Shahin. This important meeting took place on the sidelines of the extraordinary meeting of the Open-Ended Executive Committee at the level of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which was convened to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the strong bilateral relations between their two brotherly countries and discussed in depth the latest developments on the Palestinian scene, particularly the serious field and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. They also discussed diplomatic efforts at all regional and international levels aimed at achieving an immediate ceasefire, protecting civilians, and ensuring the urgent and sustained flow of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.
General context and diplomatic importance
This meeting comes amidst the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, which began in October 2023 and has resulted in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, leaving tens of thousands dead and wounded, mostly children and women, in addition to widespread destruction of infrastructure, homes, and hospitals. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause in all international forums, demanding that Israel be held accountable to international law and international humanitarian law, and categorically rejecting its policies of collective punishment and forced displacement of Palestinians.
Expected impact and future efforts
The importance of this Saudi-Palestinian coordination lies in unifying visions and positions in international forums and mobilizing the necessary support to pressure for an end to the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Kingdom plays a pivotal role in leading Arab and Islamic diplomatic efforts, leveraging its political and economic weight to push for a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue based on the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions, guaranteeing the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The meeting reflects the two leaderships' commitment to continued consultation and coordination to address current challenges and support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land. The Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs branch in the Makkah region, Farid bin Saad Al-Shehri, attended the meeting.
