Omani Foreign Minister discusses Gaza situation with Palestinian counterpart amid ongoing Israeli onslaught

By Abdul Salam Fayez

ISTANBUL (AA) - Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi discussed the evolving situation in the Gaza Strip on Thursday with his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki, according to the Omani Foreign Ministry.

The two ministers deliberated in a telephone call the "developments in the Palestinian territories, the dire conditions in Gaza and the relentless Israeli aggression,'' it said in a statement.

Al-Busaidi emphasized the importance of Palestinian unity among all groups to confront challenges and establish an independent Palestinian state, it said.

Al-Maliki praised Oman's efforts in supporting the Palestinian cause "including Muscat's advocacy before the International Court of Justice regarding Israeli atrocities.''

On Feb. 23, Muscat presented arguments before the Court urging it to mandate an immediate cessation by Israel of all activities that prevent Palestinians from determining their destiny.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Palestinian enclave since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, in which 1,139 Israelis were killed.

More than 32,500 Palestinians have since been killed and more than 74,900 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli army has also imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving most of the population, particularly residents of the north, on the verge of starvation.

The Israeli war, now in its 174th day, has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul