Palestinian issue at top of agenda for Arab League's foreign minister-level meeting on Sept. 10

By Ibrahim Khazen

CAIRO (AA) – The Arab League announced Saturday that the Palestinian issue will be at the top of the agenda at its regular meeting of foreign ministers on Sept. 10.

Arab efforts are ongoing on multiple fronts to address the situation in the Gaza Strip, said Jamal Rushdi, the spokesperson for Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, during an interview with the private channel "Cairo News," according to Egypt's official news agency.

The Arab foreign ministers meet twice a year, and the upcoming meeting is expected to discuss all Arab issues, Rushdi said. "However, due to the current situation, the Palestinian cause will be at the forefront of these issues and will be given priority."

"There are Arab movements on more than one front to contain what is happening in Gaza and prevent the conflict from escalating in the region," he said, without going into detail.

He highlighted the fact that "the humanitarian situation in Palestine is worsening, a situation not seen anywhere else in the world, and the cost of restoring normal life in Gaza exceeds any imagination.

"Nonetheless, major powers continue to protect Israel, necessitating a strong Arab response.”

Rushdi expressed sorrow "over the international community's inability to stop what is happening in the Palestinian territories due to the Israeli occupation."

He reiterated that "the two-state solution is the only way to resolve the Palestinian issue."

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in nearly 40,700 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and over 94,000 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala