Arab League chief tells Guterres: Palestinian state recognition must lead to end of occupation

On Monday, Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the escalating tensions in the region. During the meeting, Fahmy reiterated the Arab League's support for member states in protecting their security and sovereignty. He highlighted the importance of maintaining free passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, emphasizing that these waterways are a cornerstone of international law.

Fahmy and Guterres agreed that resolving the root causes of the escalation necessitates concerted international efforts, rather than merely addressing its outcomes. The discussions also focused on the precarious situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the growing Israeli aggression in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.

Fahmy advocated for Israel to adhere to international law and called for comprehensive international recognition of a Palestinian state, which he argued should be followed by concrete steps to dismantle the occupation and establish an independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He firmly maintained that Gaza is an inseparable part of the occupied Palestinian territories and rejected any arrangements that would fragment it from the West Bank.

Both leaders touched upon the situations in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan, renewing their joint appeal for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of safe corridors for aid distribution to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese populace and avert the humanitarian crisis from worsening. They affirmed their robust partnership, acknowledging it as a benchmark for collaboration between global and regional organizations, and underscored the significance of sustained cooperation to foster peace and stability across the Arab region and beyond.