Arab Group at UN urges recognition of Palestine as ‘step toward lasting peace’ ahead of conference on two-state solution

Arab Group at UN urges recognition of Palestine as ‘step toward lasting peace’ ahead of conference on two-state solution
Arab representatives at the UN on Friday praised countries that have recognized the state of Palestine, and urged other nations to follow suit. (Supplied)
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Updated 12 June 2025
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Arab Group at UN urges recognition of Palestine as ‘step toward lasting peace’ ahead of conference on two-state solution

Arab Group at UN urges recognition of Palestine as ‘step toward lasting peace’ ahead of conference on two-state solution
  • Comments come as Saudi Arabia, France prepare to co-chair global forum to hasten implementation of two-state solution
  • ‘Our collective responsibility is to help our people find life and liberty in their homeland,’ says Palestine envoy

NEW YORK: Arab representatives at the UN on Friday praised countries that have recognized the state of Palestine, and urged other nations to follow suit.

“Recognition is not just symbolic, it is a step toward lasting peace,” said Mohamed Abushahab, the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN and chair of the Arab Group for May, a forum for Arab nations to outline their positions on various issues.

The comments came as Saudi Arabia and France prepare to co-chair a global conference later this month that will seek to hasten implementation of a two-state solution and end decades of conflict between Israel and Palestinians.

The effort gained further support this month as the devastating toll of Israel’s resumed assault on Gaza sparked international anger.

Arab representatives say the upcoming conference, which will take place in New York, must go beyond diplomacy and deliver tangible steps toward peace.

Speaking at a UN General Assembly meeting earlier this month in preparation for the forum, Saudi Arabia said that recognizing the state of Palestine is a “strategic necessity” that is “the cornerstone of a new regional order based on mutual recognition and coexistence.”

“Regional peace begins with recognizing the state of Palestine, not as a symbolic gesture, but as a strategic necessity,” the Kingdom said.

The high-level conference is scheduled to begin on June 17 at the UN headquarters and aims to urgently adopt concrete measures toward the implementation of the two-state solution.

Palestine is officially recognized by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states and has observer status at the UN, but is not a full member.

More than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel unleashed its military operation in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 people in October 2023.

As the death toll and suffering in Gaza has increased, more nations have moved to recognize Palestine, including Ireland, Norway, and Spain last year.

The Arab Group also issued an urgent call for immediate action from the UN Security Council to end the “catastrophic war” and deepening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Abushahab emphasized the group’s collective condemnation of Israel’s military campaign and blockade on Gaza.

“The Arab Group stands united in our determination to mobilize and put an end to the catastrophic war on Gaza,” he said.

“We demand the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid and its distribution based on humanitarian principles. Starvation must not be used as a weapon of war.”

Abushahab criticized Israel’s proposed aid distribution mechanism, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law.

He reiterated the Arab Group’s demand for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, alongside the release of all hostages and detainees.

The UN representative urged the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution on Gaza advanced by the elected members of the council, and called on member states to take “concrete actions” to advance the two-state solution.

Majed Bamya, Palestine’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, said: “It is enough for anybody to understand the human tragedy unfolding before our eyes.”

Referring to the relentless bombardments, mass displacement, starvation, and the killing of children, he added: “Outrage is not enough. We need action.”

Bamya stressed the need for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the massive delivery of humanitarian aid.

He praised Egypt and Qatar for their mediation efforts, and acknowledged US involvement in attempts to secure a ceasefire.

“The Palestinian people are being subjected to an attempt to liquidate their cause by force,” Bamya said, accusing Israel of using starvation and aid obstruction to displace the population and seize land.

He firmly rejected any new aid distribution mechanism proposed by Israel, insisting on the UN plan that ensures equitable aid access throughout Gaza.

“We cannot expect people to survive this alone,” he said. “Israel wants to convince them that if they want life, they can only find it away from their land. Our collective responsibility is to help our people find life and liberty in their homeland.”

As the humanitarian toll mounts, the Arab Group’s call to the Security Council reflects increasing pressure for global powers to take a firmer stance on the crisis.

“The time of half-measures has passed,” said Bamya. “Palestinian lives are not less valuable than any other lives. The council must act accordingly.”


Fuel shortages in Gaza at ‘critical levels’, UN warns

Fuel shortages in Gaza at ‘critical levels’, UN warns
Updated 1 min 39 sec ago
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Fuel shortages in Gaza at ‘critical levels’, UN warns

Fuel shortages in Gaza at ‘critical levels’, UN warns
GENEVA: The United Nations warned Saturday that dire fuel shortages in the Gaza Strip had reached “critical levels,” threatening to further increase the suffering in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
Seven UN agencies said in a joint statement that “fuel is the backbone of survival in Gaza.”
Fuel was needed to “power hospitals, water systems, sanitation networks, ambulances, and every aspect of humanitarian operations,” they said, highlighting that bakeries also needed fuel to operate.
The besieged Palestinian territory has been facing dire fuel shortages since the beginning of the devastating war that erupted after Hamas’s deadly attack inside Israel on October 7, 2023.
But now “fuel shortage in Gaza has reached critical levels,” warned the agencies, including the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme and the humanitarian agency OCHA.
“After almost two years of war, people in Gaza are facing extreme hardships, including widespread food insecurity,” they pointed out.
“When fuel runs out, it places an unbearable new burden on a population teetering on the edge of starvation.”
The UN said that without adequate fuel, the agencies that have been responding to the deep humanitarian crisis in a territory swathes of which have been flattened by Israeli bombing and facing famine warnings, “will likely be forced to stop their operations entirely.”
“This means no health services, no clean water, and no capacity to deliver aid,” the statement said.
“Without adequate fuel, Gaza faces a collapse of humanitarian efforts,” it warned.
“Without fuel, bakeries and community kitchens cannot operate. Water production and sanitation systems will shut down, leaving families without safe drinking water, while solid waste and sewage pile up in the streets,” it added.
“These conditions expose families to deadly disease outbreaks and push Gaza’s most vulnerable even closer to death.”
The warning comes days after the UN managed to bring fuel into Gaza for the first time in 130 days.
While a “welcome development,” the UN agencies said the 75,000 liters of fuel they were able to bring in was just “a small fraction of what is needed each day to keep daily life and critical aid operations running.”
“The United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners cannot overstate the urgency of this moment,” they said.
“Fuel must be allowed into Gaza in sufficient quantities and consistently to sustain life-saving operations.”

FM Araghchi says Iran to work with IAEA, but inspections may be risky

FM Araghchi says Iran to work with IAEA, but inspections may be risky
Updated 20 min 4 sec ago
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FM Araghchi says Iran to work with IAEA, but inspections may be risky

FM Araghchi says Iran to work with IAEA, but inspections may be risky
  • While Iran’s cooperation with the nuclear watchdog has not stopped, it will take a new form, he said

DUBAI, July 12 : Iran plans to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog despite restrictions imposed by its parliament, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday, but stressed that access to its bombed nuclear sites posed security and safety issues.

The new law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran’s nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) needs approval by the Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s top security body.

“The risk of spreading radioactive materials and the risk of exploding leftover munitions ... are serious,” state media cited Araghchi as saying. “For us, IAEA inspectors approaching nuclear sites has both a security aspect ... and the safety of the inspectors themselves is a matter that must be examined.”

While Iran’s cooperation with the nuclear watchdog has not stopped, it will take a new form and will be guided and managed through the Supreme National Security Council, Araghchi told Tehran-based diplomats.


Jordan, EU sign security pact to tackle serious crime, terrorism

Jordan, EU sign security pact to tackle serious crime, terrorism
Updated 41 min 29 sec ago
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Jordan, EU sign security pact to tackle serious crime, terrorism

Jordan, EU sign security pact to tackle serious crime, terrorism
  • Joint action will target migrant and weapons smuggling as well as drug trafficking
  • Partnership ‘embodies mutual trust and understanding,’ says Europol executive director

AMMAN: Jordan and the EU have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at bolstering efforts to combat organized crime and terrorism across borders, the Jordan News Agency reported.

The working arrangements were signed between Jordan’s Public Security Directorate and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, or Europol, on Thursday.

The agreement establishes a legal framework to support joint action in fighting serious and organized crime, as well as terrorism, by facilitating cooperation and the exchange of non-personal information between Europol and Jordanian law enforcement agencies.

According to a statement from the PSD, the agreement will allow both parties to coordinate on a range of issues, including migrant smuggling, drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons smuggling.

Under the deal, Jordan and the EU will share specialized expertise, overall situation reports, and the results of strategic analyzes.

he working arrangements were signed between Jordan’s Public Security Directorate and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, or Europol, on Thursday. (Europol)

The agreement also enables participation in joint training initiatives, and includes provisions for advice and support in individual criminal investigations.

To streamline collaboration, the PSD will appoint a national contact point responsible for liaising with Europol and coordinating efforts between Jordanian agencies and their European counterparts.

The arrangements also allow for the potential appointment of a Europol liaison officer to be stationed in Jordan, joining a global network of law enforcement representatives from more than 50 countries.

With the agreement in force, the EU and Jordan are expected to significantly strengthen their cooperation in addressing pressing regional and international security challenges.

The arrangements represent “a pivotal step” in joint efforts to address the security threats affecting the EU, its member states, and Jordan, said Catherine De Bolle, executive director of Europol.

She said the partnership “embodies mutual trust and understanding in the law enforcement area,” paving the way for closer cooperation to achieve security within the EU and across the Middle East.


28 Palestinians including children killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza

28 Palestinians including children killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza
Updated 12 July 2025
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28 Palestinians including children killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza

28 Palestinians including children killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza
  • Israeli military says that over the past 48 hours, troops struck approximately 250 targets in the Gaza Strip

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including four children, hospital officials said Saturday.

The children and two women were among at least 13 people who were killed in Deir Al-Balah, in central Gaza, after Israeli airstrikes pounded the area starting late Friday, officials in Al-Aqsa Martyr’s Hospital said. Another four people were killed in strikes near a fuel station, and 15 others died in Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, according to Nasser Hospital.

The Israeli military said in a statement that over the past 48 hours, troops struck approximately 250 targets in the Gaza Strip, including militants, booby-trapped structures, weapons storage facilities, anti-tank missile launch posts, sniper posts, tunnels and additional Hamas infrastructure sites. The military did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment on the civilian deaths.

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and abducted 251. They still hold 50 hostages, less than half of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israel’s offensive has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, which is under Gaza’s Hamas-run government, doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. The UN and other international organizations see its figures as the most reliable statistics on war casualties.

US President Donald Trump has said that he is closing in on another ceasefire agreement that would see more hostages released and potentially wind down the war. But after two days of talks this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu there were no signs of a breakthrough.


Syria denies ‘escalatory intentions’ towards Lebanon: sources

Syria denies ‘escalatory intentions’ towards Lebanon: sources
Updated 12 July 2025
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Syria denies ‘escalatory intentions’ towards Lebanon: sources

Syria denies ‘escalatory intentions’ towards Lebanon: sources
  • A source said the Syrian government considers the issue of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons a top priority
  • Syrian authorities have accused Lebanon of procrastination to repatriate its imprisoned nationals

DUBAI: The Syrian government has denied reports that Damascus intends to take escalatory measures against Beirut over the case of Syrian prisoners in Lebanon, sources said on Friday.
A source from Syria’s Ministry of Information said the Syrian government considers the issue of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons a top priority, adding that it is committed to resolving it swiftly through official channels between the two countries.
Sources close to the Syrian government were previously quoted by a television channel saying Damascus was considering diplomatic and economic escalation against Beirut.
The source claimed Damascus was considering the escalation over what it described as Lebanon’s disregard to the fate of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons, which an unnamed official related to the Syrian information ministry also denied.
Syrian authorities have accused Lebanon of procrastination to repatriate about one third of more than 2,000 of its imprisoned nationals.
The fate of the Syrian prisoners has irritated Damascus given that Lebanon had announced in March that it was ready to repatriate them.