Qatari speaker urges joint parliamentary action to force Israel for Gaza ceasefire

By Mohammed Yusuf and Ahmed Asmar

ISTANBUL / The speaker of Qatar’s Shura Council on Friday called for coordinated parliamentary action to pressure the international community into compelling Israel to halt its attacks on Gaza.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Parliamentary Group in Solidarity with Palestine in Istanbul, Hassan Al-Ghanim said statements of condemnation are no longer sufficient, given the scale of the tragedy in the enclave, where more than 51,000 people have been killed since October 2023. The territory has been rendered uninhabitable with shortages of food, water, shelter and almost no or little health facilities.

Parliaments must now act together to pressure the international community into forcing Israel to stop its assault on Gaza," he added.

The official said the "success of any just and comprehensive political settlement hinges on an immediate and complete end to Israeli aggression on Gaza."

The Parliamentary Group in Solidarity with Palestine is an initiative of Türkiye's Grand National Assembly aimed at mobilizing legislative bodies worldwide against Israel’s war.