Arab Parliaments Urge Joint Action for Gaza Ceasefire

Speakers from Arab parliaments gathered at the inaugural meeting of the Parliamentary Group in Solidarity with Palestine in Istanbul, Turkey, to call for urgent joint action to pressure Israel into agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza. Highlighting the devastating impact of Israel's attacks, Qatar's Shura Council Speaker Hassan Al-Ghanim emphasized that parliaments must now take coordinated action to force Israel to halt its aggression on Gaza. The meeting comes as the territory faces catastrophic conditions, with over 51,000 people killed since October 2023, and dire shortages of food, water, and shelter.

Key Takeaways:

• Qatar's Shura Council Speaker Hassan Al-Ghanim urged parliaments to act together to pressure the international community into forcing Israel to stop its assault on Gaza.
• The "success of any just and comprehensive political settlement hinges on an immediate and complete end to Israeli aggression on Gaza," according to Al-Ghanim.
• Palestinian National Council Speaker Rawhi Fattouh called on pro-Palestine parliaments worldwide to take action to stop Israel's genocide in Gaza and aggression in the occupied West Bank.
• The Palestinian land remains the only territory in the world still under occupation, as stressed by Fattouh, a "disgrace on the world's conscience."
• The Parliamentary Group in Solidarity with Palestine is an initiative of Turkey's Grand National Assembly, aimed at mobilizing legislative bodies worldwide against Israel's war.
• Speakers valued Turkey's stance in supporting the Palestinian people and rejecting the Israeli occupation.

Statistics:

• Over 51,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.
• The territory has been rendered uninhabitable due to shortages of food, water, and shelter, with almost no or little health facilities available.
• The Palestinian land has been under occupation for an indefinite period.