Cairo / Information Office / February 08  

The State of Qatar participated Monday in the extraordinary meeting of the League of Arab States held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Cairo to discuss Arab solidarity and emphasize commitment to the Palestinian cause.

The State of Qatar's delegation was chaired by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi.

In Qatar's speech during the meeting, Al Muraikhi said that the meeting comes at a time when the region is facing difficult and dangerous challenges, with Palestine in particular facing those challenges. He also noted that it comes as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on all over the world after killing two million people and infecting millions more. He added that those challenges require strong Arab solidarity and cooperation, given it will be the perfect weapon to face all those challenges and eliminate dangers.

He said that the State of Qatar renews its appreciation of the State of Kuwait's efforts to achieve a GCC reconciliation, which started with the late Amir HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and continued under HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and were crowned with Al-Ula statement at the GCC Summit held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last month.

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs stressed that the Palestinian issue remains the core Arab issue, highlighting that it remains the top priority despite the lack of momentum of peace talks due to the Israeli violation of its commitment, intensification of illegal settlement of Palestinian land, and Judaization of Al Quds. He reiterated the State of Qatar's position that a fair and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue must stand on a two-state solution, international resolutions, and the Arab peace initiative in order to establish a Palestinian state of the borders of June 4 1967 with East Al Quds as its capital.

His Excellency added that more joint work is needed to pressure the international community and ensure it is more firm with Israel when it comes to stopping illegal settlement activity, the violations against the Palestinian people, the siege imposed on Gaza, and ensure it enters serious negotiations to end Israeli occupation of all Arab land.

He added that the State of Qatar is a firm supporter of all the rights of the Palestinian people, and the reconciliation among Palestinians. He added that the State of Qatar praised the announcement made by HE the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of holding Liberation Organization Movement's presidential and national council elections, saying it represents an important step towards Palestinian unity.

Al Muraikhi stressed that the State of Qatar calls for continuing to provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people to alleviate humanitarian suffering and economic hardships they face.

He said that, as part of the State of Qatar's constant support to improve conditions in Gaza as it suffers as a result of the siege, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani directed to allocate a grant to the Palestinian people worth $360 million. He added that the grant will help pay wages and support poor families, in addition to running electricity plants, in order to put an end to the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the strip.

His Excellency expressed his hope that the meeting succeeds in supporting solidarity among Palestinians in order to gain their rights.