ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)

The Arab Group requested an open meeting of the Security Council to discuss the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip during a media stakeout on Wednesday.

The UAE participated in an Arab Group stakeout on Wednesday, discussing the recent actions the Group has taken to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, bolster the delivery of humanitarian aid, and reject all forms of forced mass displacement, according to a statement posted by the UAE Permanent Mission to the UN.

Arab Group requested an open meeting of the Security Council to be held on Friday, which will focus on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Furthermore, the Arab Group updated reporters on Palestine’s work to be admitted to the UN as a member state and convene an international summit on the two-state solution.

The Group also noted that they wanted to speak in one voice at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting discussing the US veto.

They reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire and stressed that humanitarian assistance should be increased, reaching hundreds of truckloads daily, including medicine, fuel, and other necessities.

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Representative of Palestine to the United Nations, commended the UAE for representing the Arab group at the Security Council.

“We want to express our gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for all the wonderful things that they did during their tenure as representative of the Arab group in the Security Council,” he said.

The UNGA meeting started on Tuesday to discuss the US veto of the Russian Federation’s proposed amendment to the UAE-penned Resolution 2720.

The amendment sought to establish “an urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access” and encourage “urgent steps towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities”.

By removing the call for a cessation of hostilities from the resolution, Russia said that the resolution was a “licence” to continue killing Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and urged the Council to demand a full-fledged ceasefire.

Bahrain, speaking for the Arab Group, emphasised the need for a just solution to the Palestinian cause to ensure regional security and stability, as well as independence for the State of Palestine, within the 4 June 1967 border lines and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Türkiye and Egypt stressed the urgent need for Council reform, with Egypt advocating for Arab and African permanent representation within the Security Council with the same privileges, including the veto rights and noting that it “will not allow the Palestinian cause to be liquidated”.

South Africa, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, and the Republic of Korea also voiced their concerns and suggestions, echoing the sentiment that a ceasefire and the two-state solution are necessary, as well as a reform within the Security Council.

In another development, Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the UN on Wednesday met with Sigrid Kaag, UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza.

“We look forward to the full operationalisation of Miss Kaag’s new role and the implementation of the Coordinator’s vital mandate, including the establishment of the aid mechanism mandated by resolution 2720,” Nusseibeh said, adding that Kaag’s efforts and leadership would be critical in advancing the UN’s response to the humanitarian crisis due to the war on Gaza.