On Wednesday, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held talks in Madrid with the members of the Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza, led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The meeting, aimed at discussing the situation in the besieged Gaza Strip, included the foreign ministers of Qatar, Palestine, Jordan, and Turkiye, as well as the secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The committee members praised Spain’s recent recognition of the State of Palestine and committed to continuing efforts to secure Palestinian rights and promote peace amid ongoing extremism, violence, and violations of international law.
More than 140 countries now recognize a Palestinian state, with Spain, Norway, and Ireland making this diplomatic move on Tuesday.
During the meeting, participants focused on efforts to halt Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and Rafah, emphasizing the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and the provision of sustainable humanitarian aid. They also called for an end to illegal Israeli actions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to achieve comprehensive peace, protect Palestinian rights, and ensure regional security.
The committee reviewed its efforts to support Palestinian statehood and the steps needed to implement the two-state solution in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and other international proposals. The importance of urgent international action to recognize Palestine was stressed to preserve the rights of its people and achieve regional security.
Prince Faisal expressed gratitude to Spain, noting that its decision brought “hope in a very dark time.”
“We are here to thank Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia for making the right decision at the right time, for being on the right side of history and justice during this ongoing human catastrophe in Gaza,” he said.
“This is the right moment to offer hope for the two-state solution, for peace, for coexistence. We thank you and hope others will follow suit because the path to peace involves a two-state solution, with a state of Palestine living in peace and harmony with all its neighbors, including Israel.”
