GCC slams Israeli blockade on Gaza as war crime ahead of Asean summit
KUALA LUMPUR: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has lambasted the ongoing Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, describing the actions of the Zionist regime as a "war crime".
GCC assistant secretary-general for political and negotiation affairs, Dr Abdel Aziz Abu Hamad Aluwaisheg, said Israeli forces have used the blockade to influence political outcomes and that it has been a major cause of starvation and famine among the Gazan population.
"They (Israel) try to ethnically cleanse Gaza; this is a war crime," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview here Saturday (May 24) ahead of the 46th Asean Summit.
Abdel Aziz urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an immediate injunction compelling Israel to lift the blockade, criticising Tel Aviv for its failure to comply with ICJ and United Nations directives.
Speaking on the consensus between GCC and Asean about the situation in Gaza, Abdel Aziz said during the first GCC-Asean meeting in Riyadh, both parties had a full agreement on four key points.
"First, the need for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire. Second, the importance of delivering aid, all kinds of aid, to the besieged population in Gaza. Third, the need to allow the UN and UN relief agencies to do their job in Gaza, not block them from entering Gaza.
"And finally, the fact that in 2023, we have recognised the role Saudi Arabia was playing in trying to address the underlying issue of Israel-Palestine through the two-state solution," he remarked.
He said that the GCC also recognises the role other GCC countries have played in the negotiations to bring about a ceasefire and exchange of hostages.
"This is a combined role that the state of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are working on. So, this is what we agreed to in 2023," he said.
Abdel Aziz also expressed hope that the Asean-GCC Summit in Kuala Lumpur will reach a similar consensus to what both parties had agreed two years ago in Riyadh.
Malaysia is hosting the 46th Asean Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from May 26 to 27 as part of its 2025 Asean chairmanship under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability".
In conjunction with the summit, two key high-level meetings, namely the 2nd Asean-GCC Summit and the Asean-GCC-China Summit, will also take place, marking an important platform for expanded regional and inter-regional cooperation. - Bernama
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