New york: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi said that the continuous attacks carried out by Israeli occupation forces, most recently the brutal assault on the State of Qatar, constitute a blatant violation of the State of Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, a breach of international law and the United Nations Charter, a threat to the region's security and stability, and a direct undermining of Qatar's intensive mediation efforts with Egypt and the United States to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees.
According to Qatar News Agency, he made these remarks during the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the French Republic, held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The meeting was co-chaired by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, representing the current GCC presidency, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, with the participation of the foreign ministers of the GCC member states.
Albudaiwi highlighted that the emergency Arab-Islamic and GCC summits held in Doha after the attack reflected a unified Gulf, Arab, and Islamic stance in rejecting the aggression. He said the two summits issued clear and firm statements condemning the Israeli act and reaffirmed the participating countries' consensus in supporting Qatar against the Israeli assault, holding Israel fully responsible for the consequences of its actions, and calling for urgent international action to deter and hold it accountable.
He reiterated that the security of the GCC is indivisible and that any attack on one member state is an attack on all, based on the principle of collective defense and the protection of the stability, sovereignty, and security of GCC states and their peoples. Albudaiwi added that Israel's ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people, its crime of genocide in Gaza, and the deliberate blockade that has caused famine require the international community to shoulder its responsibilities to stop these crimes.
He stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the release of hostages and detainees, the protection of civilians, and the immediate and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. He underscored the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 2730 on protecting humanitarian workers and ensuring aid access, and highlighted the critical role of UNRWA.
He reaffirmed the GCC's steadfast commitment to supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially their right to establish an independent state on the Jun. 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy. He also praised France for co-chairing, alongside Saudi Arabia, the high-level international conference on a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, held at UN headquarters in July 2025, which resulted in the adoption of the New York Declaration by a large majority in the General Assembly earlier this month.
Albudaiwi described the declaration as a milestone reaffirming that the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state is the only path to a just and lasting peace in the region. He commended France's historic decision to recognize the State of Palestine, calling it a new beacon of hope for the Palestinian people and evidence of France's serious partnership in achieving regional security and stability.
He further reiterated the GCC's firm position on upholding the rules of the international order, the principles of good neighborliness, respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, refraining from the use or threat of force, and favoring peaceful solutions to disputes to ensure a safe and stable environment for GCC states and their peoples. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding maritime security and waterways, and countering activities that threaten regional and global stability, including attacks on commercial ships and threats to sea-lane navigation and international trade.
Finally, Albudaiwi noted the strategic partnership between the GCC and France, describing it as built on deep historical foundations aimed at promoting security, stability, and prosperity at the regional and international levels. He underlined that the meeting took place amid serious regional and global challenges that require strengthened dialogue, consultation, and cooperation with partners, particularly France, to confront common challenges and seize opportunities that contribute to security, stability, and sustainable development in both regions and the world at large.