Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, received on 4 January Democratic Senators Christopher Van Hollen and Jeffrey Merkley, members of the US Senate Appropriations Committee.
According to Gamal Roshdy, spokesperson for the Secretary-General, the meeting focused on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip. The Secretary-General emphasised the importance of the United States fulfilling its responsibilities to exert pressure on Israel, urging them to halt the military campaign conducted by the occupying force against Palestinians in Gaza.
Additionally, he expressed concern about the persistent efforts to forcibly relocate the population from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip, characterising Israeli actions as collective punishment that amounts to war crimes and violates international humanitarian law. In this context, he stressed the necessity of earnestly and genuinely working towards implementing a two-state solution to bring an end to this conflict.
The spokesperson clarified that Mr. Aboul Gheit underscored the vital need to persist in advocating for the provision of humanitarian aid with the necessary urgency, utilising humanitarian corridors, and urging a comprehensive ceasefire. Furthermore, the Secretary-General requested the two Congress members to leverage the influence of the United States to pressure Israel into halting its military actions in the Gaza Strip.
The official spokesperson added that the two US Congress members asserted the significance of the League of Arab States' role in bringing an end to the war. They also highlighted the importance of efforts to release hostages promptly and urgently deliver aid to alleviate the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip.
