Dialogue key to ending conflict: Sayyid Badr
Speaking at the Tehran Dialogue Forum, H E Sayyid Badr reaffirmed Oman's strong ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran and expressed gratitude to Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Abbas Araghchi for the invitation to participate.
'The Sultanate of Oman attaches great importance to its distinguished relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran,' he said, acknowledging Araghchi's role in promoting regional and international dialogue with 'candour, precision and flexibility'.
H E Sayyid Badr used the platform to focus on what he described as one of the region's most pressing challenges — the Palestinian issue.
'The violence and genocide that the Palestinian people continue to endure is a global tragedy – one that should never have been allowed to occur,' he said. 'It could have been prevented had the opportunities for dialogue been seized.'
He said that since the assassination of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, the Palestinians had been left without a credible partner for dialogue, blaming successive Israeli governments for rejecting serious engagement.
He also criticised the international community for failing to exert 'meaningful pressure' to initiate a genuine peace process, while pointing out the damaging role played by actors who imposed rigid preconditions for engagement.
'What has given me some hope and optimism in recent months,' H E Sayyid Badr noted, 'is the emergence of signs pointing towards a possible shift in approach from Washington.'
Referring to recent developments, he said the United States may be exploring a 'more pragmatic and flexible stance' on potential dialogue partners, citing comments from a senior Hamas official who claimed there had been contact with Washington.
'This suggests that even at a time of horrific destruction, there is a renewed appetite for dialogue – one we all recognise as essential, even if Tel Aviv continues to try to avoid it by escalating militarily on multiple fronts,' he said.
He expressed confidence that US President Donald Trump could help bring about peace.
H E Sayyid Badr acknowledged the difficulties of diplomatic engagement but warned against the consequences of avoiding dialogue. 'Gaza stands as a terrible lesson in what happens when people lack the courage to speak to one another,' he said.
He concluded by reaffirming Oman's commitment to diplomacy. 'We remain firmly committed to the difficult path of dialogue – including with those we may deeply disagree with,' he said, expressing hope that the Tehran forum would help strengthen international resolve for peaceful solutions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
3 hours ago
- Observer
Western nations call for immediate end to Gaza war
DEIR AL BALAH: More than two dozen Western countries called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza on Monday, saying that suffering there had "reached new depths" as Israel's military expanded its operations to the central city of Deir Al Balah. After more than 21 months of fighting that have triggered catastrophic humanitarian conditions for Gaza's more than two million people, Israeli allies Britain, France, Australia, Canada and 21 other countries, plus the EU, said in a joint statement that the war "must end now". "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths," the signatories added, urging a negotiated ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants and the free flow of much-needed aid. The plea came as Deir Al Balah came under intense shelling on Monday, after Israel's military warned of imminent action in an area where it had not previously operated. The military, a day earlier, had ordered those in the central Gaza area to leave immediately as it was expanding operations, including "in an area where it has not operated before". Between 50,000 and 80,000 people were in the area when the evacuation order was issued, according to initial estimates from the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA. Deir Al Balah resident Abdullah Abu Saleem, 48, said on Monday that "during the night, we heard huge and powerful explosions shaking the area as if it were an earthquake". He said this was "due to artillery shelling in the south-central part of Deir Al Balah and the southeastern area". "We are extremely worried and fearful that the army is planning a ground operation in Deir Al Balah and the central camps where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering," he added. In their statement, the Western countries also denounced Israel's aid delivery model in Gaza, saying it was "dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity". The UN has recorded 875 people killed in Gaza while trying to get food since late May, when Israel began easing a more than two-month aid blockade. "We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food," the statement said. In Deir Al Balah, images showed plumes of dark smoke billowing into the sky. The spokesman for Gaza's civil defence agency, Mahmud Bassal, said that "we received calls from several families trapped in the Al Baraka area of Deir Al Balah due to shelling by Israeli tanks". Since the start of the war, nearly all of Gaza's population has been displaced at least once by repeated Israeli evacuation orders. According to OCHA, the latest order means that 87.8 per cent of the territory is now under evacuation orders or within Israeli militarised zones. The families of hostages held in Gaza since October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war said they were "shocked and alarmed" by reports of evacuation orders for parts of Deir Al Balah. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum demanded political and military authorities "to clearly explain why the offensive in the Deir Al Balah area does not put the hostages at serious risk". Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,029 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. — AFP
Observer
4 hours ago
- Observer
Peace in peril: The Middle East's struggle for stability
The Middle East, a land of ancient civilisations, continues to grapple with persistent conflicts, which raises a pertinent question: Can total peace ever truly return to a region where nights are often shattered by sirens, bombings and gunfire? The human cost, particularly to civilians, including children, is immeasurable and tragic. The ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza — with their devastating impact on civilian lives — coupled with incursions into sovereign Lebanese territory and, more recently, strikes in Iran that severely disrupted regional air travel, underscore the volatile nature of the current landscape. These events unfold against a backdrop of other global conflicts which show no signs of abatement despite international pressure and the strong rhetoric from leaders. Gaza's hunger crisis is a new level of desperation, with people dying from lack of humanitarian assistance. Malnutrition is rising, with around 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment. Even in Syria, where a glimmer of hope for normalcy appeared with a recent regime change, the past week has seen a renewed surge in fighting. While a ceasefire deal was announced amid international pressure, the efficacy of such agreements in the current climate remains a sobering question. Israel's continued military operations, even in the face of ceasefire declarations and widespread international condemnation, further complicate the path to lasting peace. Not to forget Oman's neighbour Yemen, where food insecurity is at an all-time high. Nearly 18 million Yemenis, over half the population, starve, with about 2.7 million pregnant and breastfeeding women needing treatment for acute malnutrition, and 55 per cent of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition. Nearly 5 million people have been displaced from their homes, over 75 per cent of them being women and children. These individuals end up in displacement camps or dangerous makeshift shelters, often without any insulation or privacy. There, they face daily uncertainty about where they will end up, or if they'll ever return home. Amidst this turmoil, the citizens and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states consistently advocate for cross-sectoral cooperation, particularly in areas like tourism and business. Their emphasis on the symbiotic relationship between political stability and economic prosperity is evidenced by the robust economic indicators of the region's fastest-growing markets. The challenges hindering these nations cannot be easily understood. The overthrow of established regimes without viable 'Plan B' scenarios has frequently led to power vacuums. Ironically, these countries are home to some of the world's oldest civilisations, boasting immense potential for cross-border tourism. This inherent wealth of cultural and historical assets, if properly harnessed, could be a powerful catalyst for shared prosperity. The critical question is: Why can't local leaders in these nations prioritise peace and progress? Why can't they envision a future that benefits all segments of society, equally serving both minority and majority populations? The pursuit of stability and cooperation, rather than conflict and fragmentation, holds the key to unlocking the vast potential of this vital region and ensuring a future where its people can finally go to bed without fear.
Muscat Daily
6 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
GCC demands urgent global action to end Gaza blockade
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has called for immediate international action to end the siege on Gaza and ensure the entry of humanitarian aid, amid what it described as ongoing crimes by Israeli forces against Palestinians. Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC, said the member states condemned the blockade, which has prevented the delivery of essential aid, resulting in a worsening humanitarian crisis. He said the situation reflected a clear breach of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. 'The Israeli occupation bears full responsibility for the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, including its policy of collective starvation,' Budaiwi said. 'This constitutes a war crime that requires urgent accountability.' He urged the international community, including states, institutions, and organisations, to take immediate steps to stop the siege, end the violence, and open the crossings to allow urgent humanitarian relief into Gaza. Budaiwi reaffirmed the GCC's support for the Palestinian people and their right to freedom, dignity, and self-determination, as well as a just and lasting peace based on UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. Meanwhile, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned of extreme food shortages in Gaza. 'We are receiving desperate messages of starvation from Gaza, including from our colleagues,' the agency said in a statement on Monday. UNRWA reported a 40-fold increase in food prices, highlighting a receipt showing 1kg of sugar priced at $100, with flour, rice, and lentils each costing between $23 and $30. The cost of these four basic items totalled $183. The agency said it has enough food stockpiled just outside Gaza to support the population for over three months, but the aid has not been allowed to enter. 'The suffering in Gaza is manmade and must be stopped,' UNRWA stated, calling for an end to the blockade and the immediate and large-scale entry of aid.
