MANAMA: The Arab League on Thursday called for a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Palestinian territories at a summit dominated by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The 鈥淢anama Declaration鈥� issued by the 22-member bloc called for 鈥渋nternational protection and peacekeeping forces of the United Nations in the occupied Palestinian territories鈥� until a two-state solution is implemented.
The declaration also called for 鈥渁ll Palestinian factions to join under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization,鈥� which is dominated by the ruling Fatah movement, and added that it considered the PLO 鈥渢he sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.鈥�
It also called for an 鈥渋mmediate鈥� ceasefire in Gaza and an end to forced displacement in the Palestinian territory.
鈥淲e demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a halt to all attempts at forced displacement, an end to all forms of siege and allowing full and sustainable access to aid,鈥� the final communique said.
It further 鈥渟trongly condemned the attacks on commercial ships,鈥� saying they 鈥渢hreaten freedom of navigation, international trade, and the interests of countries and peoples of the world,鈥� and reiterated the Arab League鈥檚 commitment to 鈥渆nsuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea鈥� and surrounding areas.
The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, opened the summit by calling for an international conference for peace in the Middle East.
The king, as the summit鈥檚 host, also reaffirmed his country鈥檚 support for the full recognition of a Palestinian state and the acceptance of its membership in the United Nations.
He stressed that the establishment of a Palestinian state will reflect positively on the region.
Last week, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member and called on the UN Security Council to reconsider the request.
The vote by the 193-member General Assembly was a global survey of support for the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member 鈥� a move that would effectively recognize a Palestinian state 鈥� after the US vetoed it in the UN Security Council last month.
鈥淲hat the Palestinians are facing requires a unified international stance,鈥� the King of Bahrain said.
During his opening remarks at the summit, 萝莉视频鈥檚 Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called for the establishment of an internationally recognized Palestinian state.
The prince was among the Arab delegates who arrived in Manama on Thursday for the Arab League Summit.
During his speech, the prince highlighted the Kingdom鈥檚 efforts in alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, reiterating 萝莉视频鈥檚 support for issues of the Arab world.
He urged the international community to back ceasefire efforts and halt the aggression on Palestinian civilians.
It is the first time the Arab leaders come together after Riyadh hosted an extraordinary summit in November where the bloc condemned Israel鈥檚 鈥渂arbaric鈥� actions in Gaza.
The one-day summit was set to discuss events in Gaza, propose a ceasefire and push for a Palestinian state.
鈥淭he Kingdom calls for conflict resolution through peaceful means,鈥� the prince said.
Palestinian leader slams Hamas
The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas criticized Hamas for giving Israel the 鈥榩retext to attack鈥� Gaza with the Oct. 7 attack.
鈥淗amas鈥� rejection of ending the division serves Israel鈥檚 interest in ending the two-state solution,鈥� he noted, pointing to the long-standing tensions between the Palestinian Authority and the militant group governing Gaza.
He said the Palestinian government has not received the financial support it had expected from international and regional partners, noting that Israel is still withholding the funds and creating a dire situation.
The Palestinian leader called on Arab countries for financial support and the US to pressure Israel into releasing the funds.
鈥淚t has now become critical to activate the Arab safety net, to boost the resilience of our people and to enable the government to carry out its duties,鈥� Abbas added.
He also urged the international community to start immediately with the implementation of the two-state solution and reiterated 鈥榝ull rejection鈥� of the displacement of Palestinians, who just marked the 76th anniversary of the 1948 Nakba.
Qatar鈥檚 Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UAE鈥檚 Vice President and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid, Kuwait鈥檚 Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and Syria鈥檚 President Bashar Al Assad were among the attendees on Thursday.