Doha: The Arab League has issued a stern condemnation of ongoing Israeli actions in various Middle Eastern territories, including Palestinian areas, southern Lebanon, and parts of Syria. These actions have reportedly extended to the Red Sea and Somalia, violating sovereignty and hampering efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region.
According to Qatar News Agency, during the 166th regular session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy highlighted the Israeli occupation's delay in meeting obligations from the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit agreement. This delay persists despite international backing, thus obstructing the transition from a temporary ceasefire to lasting peace.
Fahmy further noted the grim situation in Gaza, where around 300 Palestinian children have lost their lives since the ceasefire began nearly 300 days ago-amounting to roughly one child per day. He also addressed the ongoing violence by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and Jerusalem, the expansion of settlements, land confiscation, home demolitions, and incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which threaten to escalate the conflict further.
The Arab League plans to focus on monitoring and documenting Israeli breaches of international law. Fahmy announced the launch of a unified coordination mechanism to link Arab monitoring bodies with the League's General Secretariat, aiming to standardize methodologies and produce reports to bolster political, media, and legal initiatives.
In a related issue, Fahmy criticized Iran's actions targeting territories and facilities within Arab countries, labeling them as unacceptable. He emphasized that Arab nations should not be used as battlegrounds for external conflicts, and their sovereignty must be respected, regardless of any justifications presented.