Arab and Muslim ministers have called on for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as their delegation visited Beijing on the first leg of a tour to push for an end to hostilities and to allow humanitarian aid into the devastated Palestinian enclave.
The delegation, which is set to meet officials representing each of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, is also piling pressure on the West to reject Israel’s justification of its actions against Palestinians as self-defence.
Speaking on behalf of officials from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestinian authorities and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, among others, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the movement is to send a clear signal to immediately stop the fighting and the killings.
Saudi Arabia has sought to press the United States and Israel for an end to hostilities in Gaza, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, gathered Arab and Muslim leaders to reinforce that message.
Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the USA, Michael Herzog says the Israeli defence forces have made significant progress in facilitating the freedom of some hostages held by Hamas.
