New Delhi: The leaders of three countries – Jordan, Egypt and France – have written a join opinion article demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They have also pushed for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine.
“The war in Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian suffering it is causing must end now. Violence, terror and war cannot bring peace to the Middle East. The two-state solution will. It is the only credible path to guaranteeing peace and security for all, and ensuring that neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis ever have to relive the horrors that have befallen them since the Oct. 7 attack,” King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, President Emmanuel Macron of France and President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi of Egypt have written in the Washington Post.
The three leaders have called for the “immediate and unconditional” implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2728, passed on March 25. The resolution called for an “immediate ceasefire” until the end of Ramzan. “We emphasize the urgency of implementing the Security Council’s demand for the immediate release of all hostages and reaffirm our support for the negotiations brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States that address a cease-fire, as well as the hostages and detainees,” the leaders’ article states.
Al-Hussein, Macron and El-Sisi have also highlighted the dangers of an Israeli offensive in Rafah, where 1.5 million Palestinians are taking refuge. On Monday, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu said on an Israeli invasion of Rafah, “It will happen. There is a date.” Even Israel’s allies like the US have condemned this move as well as previous offensives in Rafah.
“Such an offensive [in Rafah] would only bring more death and suffering, heighten the risks and consequences of mass displacement of the people of Gaza and threaten regional escalation. We reiterate our equal respect for all lives. We condemn all violations and abuses of international humanitarian law, including all acts of violence, terrorism and indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Protecting civilians is a fundamental legal obligation for all parties and the cornerstone of international humanitarian law. Violating this obligation is absolutely prohibited,” the leaders of Jordan, Egypt and France have said.
They have also highlighted the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza: “Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine, but famine is already setting in. There is an urgent need for a massive increase in the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance. …Consistent with international law, Israel is under an obligation to ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population, a responsibility it has not fulfilled.”
Meanwhile on Monday, the United Nations Security Council president referred the Palestinian Authority’s application to become a full member of the world body to the committee on the admission of new member.
“We sincerely hope after 12 years since we change our status to an observer state, that the Security Council will elevate itself to implementing the global consensus on the two state solution by admitting the state of Palestine for full membership,” Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour said after the meeting.
