Oman condemns blockade imposed on Gaza
This was stated by Omar bin Saif al Kharousi, the Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations, before the Security Council during discussions on 'The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Cause.'
He said that the Middle East continues to face various challenges since the establishment of the United Nations, particularly the Palestinian issue and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Gaza has now become one of the most horrific scenes of humanitarian disaster due to the brutal Israeli aggression against thousands of innocent civilians, he added.
He warned against international complacency in stopping this aggression, emphasising that the daily massacres, collective starvation, and systematic targeting of civilians and infrastructure - including hospitals, schools and shelters - constitute a blatant violation of all international norms and conventions and amount to crimes against humanity.
The Sultanate of Oman has expressed its deep appreciation for the tremendous efforts made by UN agencies, particularly UNRWA, and its field staff who continue their humanitarian work under the most severe conditions, risking their lives to deliver humanitarian and medical aid to civilians in Gaza.
Oman has condemned attempts to weaken UNRWA and obstruct its humanitarian operations, calling on the international community to ensure its continued funding and support so that it may fulfil its vital mandate.
Further, Oman stressed the necessity of providing protection for UN personnel and ensuring their work continues unimpeded and free from targeting. It emphasised that the Security Council cannot demand respect for its resolutions on other issues while turning a blind eye to the implementation of its decisions on the Palestinian cause, particularly Resolution 2735 (2024), which called for an immediate ceasefire. — ONA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Muscat Daily
9 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Oman, Egypt reiterate stance on Gaza reconstruction
Cairo, Egypt – Oman and Egypt reaffirmed their united stance on regional developments, particularly the situation in Gaza, during the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee held in Cairo on Tuesday. H E Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, met his Egyptian counterpart Dr Badr Abdel-Aty on the sidelines of the session. Both firmly rejected any effort to displace the Palestinian people and called for stepped-up efforts to support the Arab plan for Gaza's reconstruction. They also reiterated their support for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Speaking after the meeting, H E Sayyid Badr said, 'This meeting comes at a critical time with growing challenges in the region, most notably the continued Israeli aggression in Gaza. We value Egypt's role in achieving ceasefires and easing humanitarian suffering. We fully support the Arab and Islamic initiative for the reconstruction of Gaza.' He also highlighted the importance of resuming talks between the US and Iran on the nuclear issue, stating that dialogue and trust-building are essential for regional stability. Abdel-Aty underlined the need to restart the ceasefire, secure the release of hostages and prisoners, and ensure uninterrupted humanitarian aid. He added that Egypt is continuing preparations to host the International Conference for Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza once a comprehensive truce is in place. The two ministers also discussed developments in Yemen, Syria, Sudan and the Horn of Africa, emphasising the need to respect national sovereignty and reject foreign interference. The session also focused on strengthening bilateral economic ties. Seven memoranda of understanding and executive programmes were signed in key sectors including labour, mineral resources, investment promotion, media, food safety and religious affairs. Both sides agreed to reactivate the Egyptian-Omani Business Council to support investment partnerships. Abdel-Aty said Egypt looks forward to 'a qualitative leap' in economic ties with Oman, citing opportunities in renewable energy, particularly green hydrogen and ammonia, as well as in agriculture, transport, education and technology. He also noted the importance of linking the Suez Canal Economic Zone with Special Economic Zone at Duqm, including direct maritime routes between Duqm Port and Egyptian ports, to enhance trade. He thanked Oman for supporting Egypt, including backing Dr Khaled el Enany's nomination for the post of Unesco Director-General. At the end of the session, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued coordination and cooperation in support of regional stability and development. Separately, Egypt's Minister of Labour, Mohamed Gebran, praised the support given to Egyptian nationals in Oman and said Cairo is keen to enhance cooperation in workforce training and expand collaboration between the two countries' labour ministries. Trump to discuss Gaza, Iran with Netanyahu next week Washington – US President Donald Trump has said he will discuss the situations in Gaza and Iran when he meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. Trump said the US is pushing for a truce in Gaza by 'sometime next week' when asked by reporters if a ceasefire could be in place before a visit by Netanyahu to the White House, set for July 7. 'We hope it's going to happen, and we're looking for it to happen sometime next week,' Trump responded as he departed Washington for Florida on Tuesday. He has previously urged Israel to 'make the deal in Gaza,' but on the ground, Israel has continued to pursue its offensive.
Observer
11 hours ago
- Observer
Western politics, media bias on US strikes in Iran
On June 22, 2025, the United States launched a military operation called 'Midnight Hammer' against three nuclear facilities in Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. The US claimed the goal was to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. These strikes were the first direct American attack in the recent Iran–Israel conflict, which began earlier that month when Israel carried out its own strikes. Many experts in international law said the American action was illegal. According to Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, the use of force is forbidden unless it is in self-defence after an armed attack or approved by the UN Security Council. In this case, Iran had not attacked the US, and there was no Security Council authorisation. As a result, the strike is widely considered a pre-emptive attack, which is not allowed under international law. Despite this, Western governments reacted with silence or support. Nato's Secretary-General Mark Rutte claimed the strike did not break international law. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there was 'no reason to criticise' the US action. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Iran's nuclear programme a 'grave threat' and supported the strikes, even though the UK had no direct role. Only French President Emmanuel Macron said the strikes were illegal, but he still agreed with the idea that Iran's programme must be stopped. This is an example of the West applying double standards. When Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, Western leaders loudly defended international law and national sovereignty. But when the US ignores those same rules, many of these leaders remain silent. The law is treated as flexible depending on who is breaking it. This weakens the idea of justice and fairness in global politics. The Western media also showed bias. In the United States, newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post called the strikes 'necessary' and 'inevitable'. They focused more on technical damage than legal or moral questions. They repeated President Trump's claim that Iran's nuclear programme was 'obliterated', even though later intelligence reports showed the damage only delayed the programme by a few months. CNN, another major US network, highlighted Nato's defence of the strike, but gave very little space to international law experts who disagreed. Most American media avoided discussing whether the action was legal. They mostly supported the US government's version of the story. In Europe, some outlets like the BBC and gave more attention to legal issues. They reported Macron's concerns and included intelligence that questioned US claims. But even they often accepted the wider Western view that Iran is a dangerous state and that stopping its nuclear development is justified - even if the method is illegal. There is another issue often forgotten in these reports: Iran is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and remains under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). At the time of the strikes, the IAEA had not confirmed Iran was building nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Israel has never joined the NPT and is believed to possess nuclear weapons. This important detail is almost never mentioned in Western coverage. The result is a picture that always shows Iran as a threat and Israel or the US as protectors. This is not balanced journalism. It helps to justify military actions and hides the legal and human consequences. Former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan once said, 'If the rule of law is to mean anything, it must apply equally to all.' Today, that rule seems weak. Powerful countries are allowed to act outside the law, while weaker nations are judged more harshly. This harms the credibility of international law and may lead to more conflicts in the future. If the international community wants peace and justice, it must return to fairness. Law should not change based on politics. Media should question every government equally. And strikes like the one on Iran must be judged by the same rules we apply to others. Without this, the law becomes just another weapon for the strong.
Observer
14 hours ago
- Observer
More Israeli strikes amid Gaza truce talks
CAIRO/GAZA: Israeli strikes killed at least 58 people across Gaza on Monday as residents in the enclave's north reported one of the heaviest bombardments in weeks, while Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by the Trump administration. A day after US President Donald Trump urged an end to the 20-month-old war, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected at the White House for talks on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and possible wider regional diplomatic deals. But on the ground in the Palestinian enclave, there was no sign of fighting letting up. The Israeli military issued evacuation orders on Monday to residents in large districts in the northern Gaza Strip, forcing a new wave of displacement. "Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes," said Salah, 60, a father of five children, from Gaza City. "In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground we see death and we hear explosions." Israeli tanks pushed into the eastern areas of Zeitoun suburb in Gaza City and shelled several areas in the north, while aircraft bombed at least four schools after ordering hundreds of families sheltering inside to leave, residents said. At least 58 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday, health authorities said, including 10 people killed in Zeitoun and at least 13 killed southwest of Gaza City. Twenty people, including women, children and a local journalist were killed in an Israeli air strike on a beachfront cafe in Gaza City, medics said. The Palestinian Journalist Syndicate said more than 220 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023. The Israeli military said it struck militant targets in northern Gaza, including command and control centres, after taking steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians. There was no immediate word from Israel on the reported casualties southwest of the Gaza Strip and the beachfront cafe. The bombardment followed new evacuation orders to vast areas in the north, where Israeli forces had operated before and left behind wide-scale destruction. The military ordered people there to head south, saying that it planned to fight Hamas fighters operating in northern Gaza, including in the heart of Gaza City.
