GCC demands immediate international action to end Israel's blockade of Gaza
RIYADH: The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem Al-Budaiwi strongly condemned on Monday the ongoing inhumane and illegal blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on Gaza, and the prevention of humanitarian aid from entering the territory.
In an official statement, Al-Budaiwi described the siege and its resulting humanitarian catastrophe - characterized by the spread of starvation and the depletion of food and medical supplies - as a violation of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and fundamental human rights principles.
He emphasized that the blockade constitutes a direct challenge to the international community and affirmed that the GCC holds the Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible for the ongoing humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, including what he described as a deliberate policy of collective starvation - a practice that constitutes a war crime requiring urgent international accountability.
Al-Budaiwi urged the international community, including all governments, institutions, and organizations, to take immediate and serious action to end the brutal blockade, halt the killing and starvation, ensure the swift entry of humanitarian aid, reopen border crossings without delay, and save the lives of innocent civilians from a looming catastrophe.
He reiterated the GCC's firm position in support of the Palestinian people's legitimate rights - the right to a dignified life, freedom, self-determination, and the achievement of a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. - KUNA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
27 minutes ago
- Arab Times
Homebrew horror sparks alcohol debate in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 21: After 23 people died and more than 160 suffered health complications, including permanent vision loss, following the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic beverages in Kuwait, the issue of legally permitting the sale of alcohol has sparked widespread controversy between supporters and opponents. Each side defended its position after the daily posed the question to them. One group called for allowing the legal sale of alcohol in Kuwait, insisting that such a move would help prevent smuggling. They stressed that several neighboring Gulf countries already permit its sale and asked, 'Why do we bury our heads in the sand and pretend it isn't being circulated illegally?' They argued that legalizing alcohol would reduce illegal production and the dangerous chemical compounds it often contains, which can severely harm human health or even lead to death, as seen in this recent incident. Meanwhile, the opposing group insisted that Kuwait is an Islamic country, and the sale of alcohol is strictly prohibited under any circumstances. In this regard, journalist Ahmed Al-Sarraf voiced support for tightly regulated permission to sell alcohol in the country, indicating that it is already present, sold, and manufactured illegally. He asked, 'Why do we bury our heads in the sand and pretend otherwise?' Al-Sarraf explained that several Gulf states, despite sharing customs, traditions, religion, and language with Kuwait, permit the sale of alcohol. Allowing the sale of alcohol would eliminate fraud, smuggling, and its secret manufacture. Legalizing it would protect people from consuming unsafe, unregulated products and would curb inflated prices, especially since the black-market 'mafia' exploits the ban to charge exorbitant rates. Such matters must be dealt with realistically and rationally. Al-Sarraf asked, 'Are we more Islamic than the neighboring Gulf states that permit the consumption of alcohol?' He also highlighted that alcoholic beverages are already consumed by foreign diplomats. Furthermore, Al-Sarraf stressed that the continued ban on alcohol contributes to rising corruption and the growing spread of drugs, which are far more harmful than alcohol. Also, Anwar Al-Rasheed, an international legal consultant, believes that the recent alcohol poisoning incident, which claimed the lives of 23 people, necessitates a re-evaluation of the alcohol ban law. Given the widespread presence of alcohol, he stressed the need to assess both the positives and negatives of the current legislation. Al-Rasheed said, 'If the law is proven effective in curbing alcohol consumption, then it should remain in place. However, if it becomes clear that the ban is leading to more serious consequences, then alcohol must be permitted and regulated under strict controls and conditions.' He pointed out that alcohol is legally available in most countries around the world, with only a few exceptions, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Libya. Al-Rasheed explained that the state's repeated seizures of alcohol clearly indicate the existence of a significant segment of society that consumes these products. This underscores the need to reopen this file, especially in light of the rising number of seizures and the growing rates of alcohol consumption. The government must open this topic for public and societal discussion, particularly as the increasing rates of addiction in Kuwait signal potentially dire consequences. As evidence, he pointed to alarming data from the Addiction Treatment Center at the Psychiatric Medicine Hospital, which reflects a concerning rise in addiction cases. Given that permitting alcohol might actually help reduce addiction to more harmful substances, he wondered why not consider allowing it. Meanwhile, Lawyer Ali Al-Attar strongly opposed the proposal to legalize alcohol in Kuwait, rejecting any notion of following the example of some Gulf countries or others that permit its sale. He argued that the issue of rising crime and traffic accidents is not necessarily linked to addiction rates. Lawyer Al-Attar called for the complete rejection of the idea, emphasizing that Islamic teachings, along with Kuwait's customs, traditions, and social norms, categorically prohibit alcohol. He stressed that the tragic cases of poisoning and death caused by toxic homemade substances should not be used as justification to violate Islamic law and legalize something that is fundamentally forbidden. Furthermore, Islamic preacher Sheikh Saleh Al-Ghanim emphasized that Islam strictly prohibits the consumption of alcohol, stating clearly that it is forbidden (haram). He said if any Islamic country permits the sale of alcohol, that is its own decision, and not a justification for others to follow suit. Sheikh Al-Ghanim pointed to clear Qur'anic verses and prophetic hadiths that forbid the drinking, possession, and trade of alcohol. Meanwhile, an internal medicine specialist, who requested anonymity, explained that adulterated alcohol is often made using toxic substances such as methanol and ethylene, along with other harmful chemicals that pose serious health risks. He explained that methanol, in particular, is highly dangerous and can lead to rapid death, as it is composed of carbon and hydrogen compounds that are toxic to the human body. Methanol, along with other toxic substances, destroys the digestive system and has a dangerous impact on the nervous system, which can even lead to death, such as in the recent case where 23 people died after consuming poisoned alcohol. Some alcoholic products manufactured in Kuwait are repackaged and falsely labeled as 'Made Abroad' to deceive consumers, especially since alcohol sales increase significantly during Christmas and New Year's time. Many Asian, European, and Arab communities tend to be heavier consumers of alcohol during these times.
Kuwait Times
15 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Zionists approve Gaza City conquest, W Bank settlement
GAZA/JERUSALEM: The Zionist defense minister approved a plan on Wednesday for the conquest of Gaza City and authorized the call-up of around 60,000 reservists, piling pressure on Hamas as mediators push for a ceasefire. Defense Minister Israel Katz's move, confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson, came as mediators awaited an official Zionist response on their latest proposal in ceasefire talks. While mediator Qatar had expressed guarded optimism over the latest proposal, a senior Zionist official said the government stood firm on its call for the release of all hostages in any agreement. The framework that Hamas had approved proposes an initial 60-day truce, a staggered hostage release, the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners and provisions allowing for the entry of aid into Gaza. In the West Bank, the Zionist entity on Wednesday approved a major settlement project in an area that the international community has warned threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority swiftly condemned the approval 'in the strongest terms', saying it entrenched division in the territory. On the ground in Gaza City on Wednesday, Mustafa Qazzaat, head of the emergency committee in the Gaza municipality, described the situation as 'catastrophic', with 'large numbers' fleeing eastern neighborhoods. One resident, Anis Daloul, 64, said the Zionist military had 'destroyed most of the buildings in Zeitoun and displaced thousands of people'. The Zionist entity's security cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the plan to conquer Gaza City in early August, sparking fears it would worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to Zionist media reports, Netanyahu has not yet called a security cabinet meeting to discuss any response to the latest truce proposal. GAZA: Palestinians rush for cover as smoke billows after a Zionist strike on a building in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Aug 20, 2025. - AFP Netanyahu has come under growing pressure at home and abroad to end the war, with the German government saying on Wednesday that it 'rejects the escalation' of the Zionist entity's campaign. French President Emmanuel Macron said the offensive 'can only lead to a complete disaster for both peoples', warning it would 'drag the region into a permanent war'. Katz's approval of plans to conquer Gaza City came days after Hamas said it had accepted the latest proposal from mediators for a ceasefire to halt almost two years of devastating war. Sources from Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad told AFP on Wednesday that the proposal envisages the release of 10 hostages and 18 bodies from Gaza. The remaining captives would be released in a second exchange within the 60-day period, during which negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would take place, the sources said. A Zionist military official told journalists on Wednesday that the new phase of combat would involve 'a gradual precise and targeted operation in and around Gaza City', including some areas where forces had not previously operated. Gaza's civil defense agency said Zionist strikes and fire killed at least 25 people across the territory on Wednesday. The Zionist military said it killed 10 Hamas militants in southern Gaza on Wednesday while repelling an attack by the armed wing of the Islamist group, which claimed it killed several Zionist soldiers. The Zionist offensive in Gaza has killed at least 62,122 Palestinians, most of them civilians. Meanwhile, the Zionist entity approved a major settlement project on Wednesday in an area of the occupied West Bank that the international community has warned threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state. The Zionist entity has long had ambitions to build on the roughly 12-square-kilometre parcel known as E1 just east of Jerusalem, but the plan had been stalled for years amid international opposition. Critics say the settlement would effectively cut the West Bank in two, undermining hopes for a contiguous Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital. Last week, Zionist far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich backed plans to build around 3,400 homes on the ultra-sensitive tract of land, which lies between Jerusalem and the Zionist settlement of Maale Adumim. 'I am pleased to announce that just a short while ago, the civil administration approved the planning for the construction of the E1 neighborhood,' the mayor of Maale Adumim, Guy Yifrach, said in a statement Wednesday. The Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority swiftly slammed the move. 'This undermines the chances of implementing the two-state solution, establishing a Palestinian state on the ground, and fragments its geographic and demographic unity,' the PA's foreign ministry said in a statement. It added the move would entrench 'division of the occupied West Bank into isolated areas and cantons that are disconnected from one another, turning them into something akin to real prisons, where movement is only possible through (Zionist) checkpoints and under the terror of armed settler militias'. All of the Zionist entity's settlements in the West Bank, occupied since 1967, are considered illegal under international law, regardless of whether they have Zionist planning permission. The Zionist entity heavily restricts the movement of West Bank Palestinians, who must obtain permits from authorities to travel through checkpoints to cross into east Jerusalem or the Zionist entity. King Abdullah II of Jordan on Wednesday also affirmed his country's rejection of the E1 project, saying 'the two-state solution is the only way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace'. UN chief Antonio Guterres warned last week that constructing Zionist homes in the E1 area would 'put an end to' hopes for a two-state solution to the Zionist-Palestinian conflict. Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher at Ir Amim, an NGO focusing on Jerusalem within the context of the Zionist-Palestinian conflict, also condemned the move. 'Today's approval demonstrates how determined (the Zionist entity) is in pursuing what Minister Smotrich has described as a strategic program to bury the possibility of a Palestinian state and to effectively annex the West Bank,' he said. 'This is a conscious (Zionist) choice to implement an apartheid regime,' he added, calling on the international community to take urgent and effective measures against the move. Excluding east Jerusalem, the West Bank is home to around three million Palestinians, as well as about 500,000 Zionist settlers. – Agencies
Kuwait Times
15 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Most Americans for recognizing Palestine: Poll
WASHINGTON: A 58 percent majority of Americans believe that every country in the United Nations should recognize Palestine as a nation, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. Some 33 percent of respondents did not agree that UN members should recognize a Palestinian state and 9 percent did not answer. The six-day poll, which closed on Monday, found a pronounced partisan divide on the issue, with 78 percent of Democrats supporting the idea, far more than the 41 percent of President Donald Trump's Republicans who agreed. A narrow 53 percent majority of Republicans did not agree that all UN member nations should recognize a Palestinian state. The Zionist entity has long counted on the US, its most powerful ally, for billions of dollars a year in military aid and international diplomatic support. An erosion of US public support would be a worrisome sign for the Zionist entity as it continues waging an expensive war on Gaza. The cost of the entity's genocidal war, which killed more than 62,000 Palestinians had reached $42 billion as of mid-January 2024, Zionist newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that month. Support for aid The poll was taken within weeks of three countries, close US allies Canada, Britain and France, announcing they intend to recognize a Palestinian state, increasing pressure on the Zionist entity. Britain, Canada, Australia and several of their European allies said last week that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached 'unimaginable levels,' as aid groups warned that Gazans are on the verge of famine due to the Zionist entity's restrictions on aid. The United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday the entity was not letting enough supplies into the Gaza Strip to avert widespread starvation. Some 65 percent of the Reuters/Ipsos poll respondents said, the US should take action in Gaza to help people facing starvation, with 28 percent disagreeing. The number disagreeing included 41 percent of Republicans. Trump and many of his fellow Republicans take an 'America First' approach to international relations, backing steep cuts to the country's international food and medical assistance programs in the belief that US funds should assist Americans, not those outside its borders. The Reuters/Ipsos poll also showed that 59 percent of Americans believe the Zionist entity's military attacks in Gaza have been excessive. Thirty-three percent of respondents disagreed. In a similar Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in February 2024, 53 percent of respondents agreed that the entity's response had been excessive, and 42 percent disagreed. Officials at the Zionist embassy in Washington and mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the poll. The latest Reuters/Ipsos survey, conducted online, gathered responses from 4,446 US adults nationwide and had a margin of error of about two percentage points. — Reuters
