Doha: The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held an extraordinary session on Monday in the city of Doha, chaired by the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
The session was attended by Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan; the Personal Representative of HM King of the Kingdom of Bahrain HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, ; Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud; Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman HH Shihab bin Tarik bin Taimur Al Said; Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and GCC Secretary-General HE Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
The GCC Supreme Council discussed the repercussions of the Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar and the blatant violation of its sovereignty by Israeli occupation forces, which targeted residential facilities housing members of the negotiating delegation from the political bureau of Hamas. This occurred during the current round of negotiations and the mediation undertaken by the State of Qatar to reach an agreement regarding Gaza.
The attack resulted in the martyrdom of Badr Saad Mohammed Al Humaidi Al Dosari, a member of the security services, and caused civilian casualties. The attack also endangered the lives of civilians in a residential area crowded with schools, diplomatic missions, and kindergartens.
This constitutes a flagrant assault on the efforts of the international community and its organisations aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages and detainees, and is a blatant violation of international law.
Here is what they agreed upon:
1. The Supreme Council condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, affirming that this act of aggression represents a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, and a grave breach of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
2. The Supreme Council affirmed the complete solidarity of the GCC states with the State of Qatar in all measures it takes to confront this aggression. It stressed that the security of the GCC states is indivisible, and that any attack on one of them is an attack on all, in accordance with the Basic Statute of the GCC and the Joint Defense Agreement, and the readiness of the member states to harness all capabilities to support the sisterly State of Qatar and protect its security, stability, and sovereignty against any threats.
3. Proceeding from the principle emphasised by the Basic Statute of the GCC that the security of the Cooperation Council is indivisible, the leaders have directed the GCC Joint Defense Council to hold an urgent meeting in Doha, to be preceded by a meeting of the Higher Military Committee. The purpose is to assess the defense posture of the member states and the sources of threat in light of the Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar, and to direct the Unified Military Command to take the necessary executive measures to activate joint defense mechanisms and Gulf deterrence capabilities.
4. The Supreme Council affirmed that the brutal Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar constitutes a direct threat to joint Gulf security and to regional peace and stability. The Council believes that the continuation of these aggressive policies undermines efforts to achieve peace and the future of existing understandings and agreements with Israel, due to the serious repercussions this carries for the stability of the entire region.
5. The Supreme Council warned that Israel's persistence in its criminal practices and its flagrant disregard for all international norms, laws, and the Charter of the United Nations, will lead to serious repercussions that threaten regional and international peace and security. The Supreme Council called on the Security Council, the international community, and influential nations to assume their full responsibilities and take firm and deterrent measures to stop these violations, which have undermined the prestige of international law and the authority of its institutions. The Supreme Council underscored that these actions represent a dangerous precedent that should not be overlooked or allowed to pass without the imposition of deterrent international sanctions.
6. The Supreme Council stressed the necessity for the international community to fulfill its moral and legal responsibilities and to act urgently to deter Israel and put an end to its repeated violations of international law and international humanitarian law, which constitute a direct threat to the security of the region and to international peace and stability. It called on all countries and international organisations to condemn this sinful aggression and to take deterrent measures that ensure respect for the sovereignty of the State of Qatar and the protection of civilians, both citizens and residents.
7. The Supreme Council commended the efforts made by the security authorities, the Civil Defense, and the competent agencies in the State of Qatar for their immediate handling of the incident, containing its repercussions, and safeguarding the safety of citizens and residents.
8. The Supreme Council affirmed that this attack obstructs the tireless efforts undertaken by the State of Qatar and its role in mediating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and detainees, and the alleviation of the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people. It underlined that the repeated Israeli aggressions against several countries in the region constitute a serious obstacle to international and regional efforts aimed at establishing security, peace, and stability.
9. The Supreme Council stressed the necessity of adhering to the foundations and principles stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations, international treaties and agreements, the principles of good neighbourliness, respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, resolving disputes by peaceful means, and refraining from the use or threat of force.
10. The leaders expressed their thanks and appreciation to the brotherly Arab and Islamic nations, and to friendly countries in the international community, which were quick to condemn the brutal Israeli aggression and declare their solidarity with the State of Qatar. They affirmed that these positions reflect a collective commitment to rejecting the violation of states' sovereignty and to supporting efforts aimed at protecting regional and international security and stability.
11. The Supreme Council called upon the peace-loving nations of the world to condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against the State of Qatar and its attempts to obstruct international efforts and diplomatic solutions aimed at stopping Israeli attacks and the crimes of genocide it practices in the Gaza Strip. These crimes, the Supreme Council underscored, include systematic policies of displacing and starving the population, disrupting the work of international relief and humanitarian organisations operating in the Gaza Strip, and killing journalists, medical and ambulance crews, rescue teams, and humanitarian workers. The Supreme Council stated that this requires the consolidation of all international efforts to deter these criminal acts.
