Arab League chief condemns ‘Israeli’ rejection of Gaza roadmap

Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy welcomed a statement issued by eight Arab and Muslim countries condemning 'Israel’s' announced rejection of a roadmap aimed at completing a comprehensive plan to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

In an official statement issued by the Arab League’s press office, Fahmy said the position of 'Israeli' authorities and the 'Israeli' Prime Minister clearly reveals an intention to undermine mediation efforts and maintain the current situation in the Gaza Strip.

Fahmy said the announced position amounts to continuing the daily killing and expanding the area under 'Israeli' occupation, while failing to address the dire humanitarian and living conditions facing more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

He also said the 'Israeli' Prime Minister’s position is driven by domestic political calculations and reflects a disregard for international will, as well as the provisions outlined in the peace plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

The Arab League chief pointed to previous arrangements that included restricting Hamas’ weapons alongside an 'Israeli' withdrawal, deploying an international stabilization force, and transferring full administrative authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

According to Fahmy, Hamas had agreed to these arrangements, while 'Israel' subsequently failed to meet its stated commitments and conditions.

Fahmy called on the international community, particularly the United States as the party sponsoring the agreement, to assume its political and moral responsibility by immediately pressuring the side obstructing the process.

He urged the parties to move without delay to the second phase of the peace plan.

Fahmy also accused 'Israel' of seeking to impose a one-sided interpretation of the agreements, under which only the Palestinian side would be required to meet obligations while 'Israel' would face no corresponding commitments to halt the killing or withdraw from occupied areas of the Gaza Strip.

The Arab League chief called on all states committed to a two-state solution to adopt a unified and clear position against what he described as 'Israel’s' “extremist government.”

He said such a position was needed to make clear that disregard for international will would not come without consequences, while protecting international legitimacy and rejecting attempts to impose unilateral terms on the region.