Arab Group, EU calls for Gaza ceasefire

The UAE, representing the Arab Group, along with the European Union, has stressed the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis.

UAE Ambassador Abushahab, in his capacity as Chair of the Group for the month of May, stressed the need to protect civilians, humanitarian workers, and UN staff.

The Arab Group condemned all attacks on civilians, and reaffirmed the Group's priorities of an immediate ceasefire, at-scale, urgent and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, and their rejection of any attempts of forced displacement.

The Group also welcomed the additional provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice, especially for an immediate halt to Israel's military operations in Rafah.

They emphasised the need for Israel to implement all the provisional measures issued by the Court without delay.

في لقاء المجموعة العربية مع الصحافة اليوم، أكد سعادة السفير أبوشهاب، بصفته رئيس المجموعة لشهر مايو، على ضرورة حماية المدنيين، والعاملين في المجال الإنساني، وموظفي الأمم المتحدة.

وأدانت المجموعة كافة الاعتداءات على المدنيين، في سياق غزة، والانتهاكات الخطيرة التي ترتكبها قوات… pic.twitter.com/SzSoE9jz6m

— UAE Mission to the UN (@UAEMissionToUN) May 24, 2024

Foreign ministers from Arab countries also called for the opening of all land crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip to increase the flow of aid.

Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, also stressed the importance of providing support to the Palestinian Authority so that it can continue to carry out its duties, stressing the need for Israel to release the withheld clearance funds to the Palestinian Authority. 

A statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the work of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, focused on developments in Palestine, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, and preventing escalation in the West Bank.