Latest news with #TheElders
Al-Ahram Weekly
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt urges pressuring Israel to end its Gaza blockade: FM to The Elders - Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty urged pressuring Israel to halt its genocidal war and policies of starvation and blockade of the Gaza Strip during his meeting with the leaders and members of The Elders, a group founded by the late South African leader Nelson Mandela to support peace around the world. The meeting took place on Monday on the sidelines of the "High-Level International Conference on Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and Implementation of the Two-State Solution" at the United Nations headquarters in New York. During the meeting, Abdelatty detailed Egypt's vision for addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and its efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement that ends Israel's genocidal war, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also discussed Egypt's preparations for hosting the International Conference on the Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza, which will be held once a ceasefire is reached. FM Abdelatty welcomed the group's planned visit to Arish and the Rafah crossing in August. He stressed the need to build on the momentum of the conference and advance efforts to implement the two-state solution and ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Meeting with Lebanon's Mitri FM Abdelatty also met with Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, affirming Egypt's support for Lebanon's security and stability amid the challenges the country is facing. He stressed Egypt's commitment to providing all kinds of support to the Lebanese government and national institutions to help restore Lebanon's security. FM Abdelatty further expressed Cairo's readiness to work with Lebanon on achieving its national priorities to fulfil the aspirations of the Lebanese people. The foreign minister also articulated Egypt's desire to enhance bilateral cooperation with Lebanon across various fields, looking forward to convening the Joint Higher Committee between both countries at the level of prime ministers in Cairo as soon as possible. Additionally, he affirmed Egypt's rejection of any violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing the urgency for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon completely and immediately. The two sides also discussed developments in the Gaza Strip, with Abdelatty reviewing Egypt's efforts to achieve a ceasefire that would ensure the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into the strip to end the worsening famine there. Egypt's top diplomat also reviewed Egypt's plans to host an international conference on Gaza reconstruction, in cooperation with the Palestinian government and the United Nations, immediately after a ceasefire is reached. During his speech at the conference on Monday, Abdelatty affirmed that the event succeeded in mobilizing a broad international consensus in support of an independent Palestinian state, despite being held at a critical moment as Gaza struggles to survive under famine. Abdelatty also lauded the 'courageous' declaration by French President Emmanuel Macron to recognize the State of Palestine. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan reaffirm strong alignment to end regional crises
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a meeting with his Qatari, Saudi, and Jordanian counterparts, during which they expressed a strong alignment in their visions and a unified position to pursue political and diplomatic solutions to the ongoing regional crises. The meeting on Monday took place on the sidelines of the "High-Level International Conference on Peaceful Resolution of the Question of Palestine and Implementation of the Two-State Solution," held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. A Foreign Ministry statement said Abdelatty exchanged views with his Arab counterparts on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, as well as joint Egyptian-Qatari efforts with the United States to resume the ceasefire, secure the release of captives and detainees, prevent further bloodshed among the Palestinian people, and ensure the urgent and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The ministers also discussed the following steps to implement the Arab-Islamic plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, including preparations for the upcoming Cairo International Conference on Reconstruction, in cooperation with the Palestinian government and the United Nations. The statement further noted that the ministers agreed to continue consultations and coordination among themselves to advance mutual interests and support regional security and stability. Earlier in the day, FM Abdelatty delivered a speech at the conference highlighting its success in mobilizing a broad international consensus in support of an independent Palestinian state. Egypt's top diplomat praised the 'courageous' declaration by French President Emmanuel Macron to recognize the State of Palestine. He also held meetings with The Elders, a group founded by the late South African leader Nelson Mandela to promote peace worldwide. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Mary Robinson: Gaza situation is ‘unconscionable' and ceasefire is ‘an utter urgency'
Former president Mary Robinson has said what is happening in Gaza is 'unconscionable' and that there is an 'utter urgency' for a ceasefire. The former UN high commissioner for human rights told RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland there needs to be a parallel humanitarian and political approach. Yesterday, more than 100 human rights and aid organisations – including Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Refugees International – warned that mass starvation was spreading across the enclave even as tons of food, clean water, medical supplies and other items sit untouched just outside Gaza as humanitarian organisations are blocked from accessing or delivering them. 'It is unconscionable what is happening and there is an utter urgency to have a ceasefire and to allow the stockpiles of food, water, medical supplies, shelter, etc, to be distributed by the UN and by the many aid agencies who are more than willing and ready to distribute.' READ MORE Mrs Robinson, former chair of The Elders – an international organisation of public figures noted as elder statespeople, peace activists and human rights advocates – called for all hostages to be released. However, she called for a 'parallel approach' saying: 'We also need the political approach and we need that to be a turning point'. She said there was potential for that at an upcoming conference in New York. 'If western countries, particularly P5 [UN security council permanent members] countries like the United Kingdom and France, recognise the state of Palestine , then we begin the political road towards that state. We restore the humanity of the Palestinians who are being dehumanised . . . The political solution is for the countries who will be involved, the foreign ministers who will present in New York, to rally together and begin to plan. 'The Elders are very in favour of an approach which has both Israeli and Palestinian support, not at the political level, but at the academic and civil society level. It's called a land for all. It's a two-state collaborative, two-states solution for the states of Palestine and Israel together. One state with two states within it. And that's a possibility. There are other possibilities, but there must be a political way forward. That's what's been absent.' Mrs Robinson said that during the second World War the Nazis had 'dehumanised the Jews so that they could exterminate them in gas chambers. And that's why we have to have the humanitarian and the political side by side'. Recently Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu telephoned Pope Leo to apologise for the injury to Fr Gabriel Romanelli when a Catholic church was bombed. However, he has not made any other apologies, Mrs Robinson said. 'Prime minister Netanyahu has not apologised for the more than 17,000 children killed in Gaza. He has not apologised for the many more children left without limbs and without family members. He has not apologised for all the children of Gaza who've been traumatised by this totally disproportionate war and are now hungry to the point of starvation because no apology is deemed to be necessary because this right-wing government has dehumanised the Palestinians.' When asked if Israel should face sanctions as had Syria and Russia, she said: 'Yes, there should be more sanctions on the leaders who are responsible, and there should be no arms supplied to continue this war which has been involved in so many war crimes.'
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Situation in Gaza 'unconscionable', says Robinson
Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson has said that what is happening in Gaza is "unconscionable", adding that people realise "an unfolding genocide" cannot be tolerated. She said there is an "utter urgency" to have a ceasefire and to allow the stockpiles of food, water, medical supplies and shelters to be distributed, by the UN and many aid agencies who are ready and willing to distribute them. Mrs Robinson said that recently the Israeli Prime Minister phoned Pope Leo XIV to apologise for the attack on the only Catholic Church in Gaza, but has not apologised "for the more than 17,000 children killed in Gaza, he has not apologised to the many more children left without limbs and without family members. "He has not apologised for all the children of Gaza who have been traumatised by this totally disproportionate war and are now hungry to the point of starvation". She accused Israel's government of "dehumanising" Palestinians. Asked if Israel should be sanctioned in the way Syria and Russia were sanctioned, Mrs Robinson said there should be more sanctions on the leaders who are responsible, and there should be no arms supplies to continue this war. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the former chair of The Elders said she believes a conference in New York could be a turning point. She said, if the P5 countries (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) recognise the state of Palestine, "then we begin the political road towards that state, we restore the humanity of the Palestinians". She said The Elders are in favour of an approach that has Israeli and Palestinian support not at the political level, but at the academic and civil level – called 'a land for all' - which is two-state solution, for the states of Israel and Palestine together. Mrs Robinson said there must be a political way forward, which has been absent, and then "we deal urgently" with the humanitarian situation. A postponed conference on a two-state solution for Palestine, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is set to go ahead in New York next Monday and Tuesday. Mrs Robinson said that despite the absence of the French president at the conference, she believes it is still a very important because "people realise we cannot tolerate an unfolding genocide". She said The Elders will use "our maximum morals persuasion advocacy" to really urge the foreign ministers to take the necessary steps, and notably for the UK and France, to recognise the state of Palestine. "What France and the UK have been saying is 'we don't want to do it as a symbol, we want to do it at the right moment', well now is the right moment, because otherwise it's all going to be too late and we're going to have a starving, genocidal killing on our doorstep, on our watch".
South China Morning Post
21-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
UN needs overhaul to take on today's global challenges, former chief Ban Ki-moon says
A former UN secretary general has called for an overhaul of the United Nations to better confront global challenges as 'some powerful nations' seek to undermine the institution. Ban Ki-moon , who was secretary general of the United Nations from 2007 to 2016, said in Hong Kong on Tuesday that the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza showed the need for a multilateral response. 'The illegal Russian war against Ukraine and the horrific war in Gaza represent one of the most dangerous moments for global security, and challenges to multilateralism, in decades,' Ban told the Fullerton Forum hosted by the University of Hong Kong's Centre on Contemporary China and the World (CCCW). Ban said that various global crises, including these conflicts, pandemics and climate change, 'have shown how we are all interconnected'. 'They also make it clear that we need multilateral responses,' he added, according to the speech published by the CCCW. In his speech, Ban thanked China for its role in implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and for its efforts to combat climate change. Ban, who is now deputy chair of The Elders, a human rights group composed of international statesmen founded by late South African president Nelson Mandela, took direct aim at US President Donald Trump, saying the shift towards unilateralism had been 'bolstered by the advent of Trumpism' in the United States.
