Saudi Arabia welcomes the second phase of the Gaza peace plan
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's welcome of the official announcement of the launch of the second phase of the comprehensive peace plan, which includes practical steps to end the ongoing conflict, most notably the formation of the "Palestinian National Committee" to assume the responsibilities of administering the Gaza Strip. This step comes as a temporary transitional body established based on UN Security Council Resolution 2803, representing a fundamental development in the political and security arrangements for the post-war period.
Supporting international and American efforts
In a related context, the Ministry welcomed US President Donald Trump's announcement of the establishment of the "Peace Council," commending the leading role of the United States and the tireless efforts exerted to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Kingdom praised the declared US commitment to ensuring the withdrawal of the Israeli army and to standing firmly against any attempts to annex parts of the West Bank, which enhances the prospects for achieving a just and lasting peace in the region. The Ministry also acknowledged the pivotal role of regional mediators, namely the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Turkey, and their ongoing efforts to bridge the gaps between the parties.
The importance of the National Committee and the future of Gaza
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its statement, emphasized the strategic importance of supporting the work of the Palestinian National Interim Committee, enabling it to fulfill its crucial responsibilities in managing the daily lives of the Gaza Strip's residents. The Kingdom stressed the necessity for these arrangements to ensure the preservation of the close institutional and geographical link between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and to guarantee the unity of Palestinian territory, declaring its categorical rejection of any plans aimed at dividing the Gaza Strip or isolating it from its Palestinian surroundings.
The context of the political solution and the humanitarian dimensions
These developments come at a time when the Gaza Strip is suffering an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as a result of the protracted war, making the start of the second phase a glimmer of hope for ending the suffering. In this context, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for the establishment of a permanent ceasefire, an immediate end to all violations, and the guarantee of the unconditional and unrestricted flow of humanitarian and relief aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip.
The ministry concluded its statement by emphasizing that these transitional steps, including early recovery and reconstruction efforts, should pave the way for the Palestinian National Authority to resume its full responsibilities, leading to the ultimate goal of ending the Israeli occupation of all occupied Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank, and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the two-state solution principle.
