KUWAIT CITY, Sept 13: Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya applauded the adoption by the UN General Assembly of a draft resolution endorsing “the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.” “This is a very important step that reflects the collective will to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and establish a fair and permanent peace in the Middle East,” the minister said in statements to KUNA on Friday.

The Declaration materializes the commitment of the international community to the principles of international law and the UN Charter, he said. “It affirms rejection of any unilateral attempt to establish a fait accompli or introduce any territorial or demographic changes in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the designs for forced displacement in stark violation of the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law,” the minister noted.

The Declaration calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages, and strongly denounces the policies of siege, starvation and attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. It signals an increasing awareness about the serious violations being committed by the Israeli occupation forces, which led to an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, the minister went on. Al-Yahya expressed Kuwait’s profound appreciation of the efforts made by Saudi Arabia and France - the Co-Chairs of the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which led to the Declaration.

“Those efforts reflected a true commitment to supporting the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people, notably the right to establish an independent state based on the pre-1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital,” he noted. The minister reaffirmed Kuwait’s firm support to the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle against the Israeli occupation until they regain their unalienable rights to live in peace and security according to the two-state vision. In other news, Qatar will host on Sunday the foreign ministers’ preparatory meeting for the Arab-Muslim emergency summit to discuss the Israeli occupation attack on Doha.

The occupation launched on Tuesday an airstrike on the Qatari capital, Doha, that targeted the residential headquarters of some Palestinian Hamas political bureau leaders. It was a hostile act, which has been widely condemned on Arab and international levels, in solidarity with Qatar, which immediately deplored, in the strongest terms, this cowardly incident. Tweeting on his account on “X”, Advisor to Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Ministry spokesman Dr. Majed Al-Ansari said it is a criminal attack and a dangerous threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents and constituted a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms. He noted that civil defense, and component and security bodies dealt with the incident and took required measures to contain the consequences and ensure the safety of residents and the surrounding areas.

Condemning the attack, the State of Qatar affirmed that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and its continued tampering with regional security, as well as any action targeting its security and sovereignty, he said. High-level investigations are ongoing and further details will be announced as soon as they are available, he stated. Qatar’s Interior Ministry declared the martyrdom of Corporal Badr Saad Mohammed Al-Humaidi Al-Dosari of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), Hammam Khalil Al-Haya - the son of a Hamas leader, Jehad Labd and Moamen Hasouna. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry denied reports claiming Doha had prior knowledge of the Israeli occupation airstrikes on the Qatari capital that targeted senior Hamas officials. Al-Ansari tweeted that the reports were “baseless,” adding the only contact from a U.S. official came during the hearing of explosions in Doha.

Meanwhile, Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad said his country condemned, in the strongest terms, the criminal, reckless attack on the residential headquarters of Hamas leaders, stressing it is a blatant violation of Qatar and its security, and a clear infringement of international law. The Amir made the statement during a telephone call he received from U.S. President Donald Trump who affirmed his solidarity with Qatar and his strong condemnation of the attack, the Qatari Amiri Diwan said. Trump extolled strenuous mediation efforts exerted by the Amir of Qatar and his country, affirming it is a key role in making peace in the region. Trump also stressed that the State of Qatar is a reliable strategic ally to the United States, urging the Amir to continue Qatar’s mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman affirmed, during a news conference, that Qatar would not tolerate any acts that undermine the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that it would deal decisively with any attack on it. Upon the directives of the Amir, the government gives a top priority to the security of nationals and expats and there will be a full review to deter these behaviors and ensure that they will not to be repeated, the premier said.

The attack on Qatar is a “state terrorism” and an attempt to destabilize regional stability and security, he said. He pointed out that Qatar has faced attacks by the Israeli occupation that targeted Hamas leaders’ headquarters during negotiations, expressing his belief that the Israeli attack killed any hope for the hostages who are still in Gaza. In an interview with CNN, Qatari Premier said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “killed any hope” for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the State of Kuwait hastily deplored the attack on Qatar, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the brutal Israeli aggression is a “flagrant violation” of all international laws and norms, and a perilous threat to the region’s stability and security.

In a statement, the ministry renewed Kuwait’s position, stressing that the UN Security Council must bear its responsibilities to guarantee international peace and security, and take serious and effective steps to halt the systematic Israeli aggression on the region’s countries. Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya emphasized the assault on the sisterly State of Qatar is a direct attack on the joint Gulf security and the shared fate among GCC states. Speaking to KUNA in a statement, Al-Yahya said the Israeli aggression is a perilous escalation that threatens the region’s stability and security, and undermines international community efforts aimed at stopping the circle of violence and protecting civilians. The positions of GCC brothers show the unified Gulf rank that reject these attacks and support Qatar in the face of the Israeli occupation violations, he stated. He elaborated that these joint stances embody the deep Gulf solidarity and GCC states commitment to protecting their stability and security. He renewed Kuwait’s full solidarity with Qatar in the face of this assault and its support to all steps and measures Doha take to maintain its security, stability and sovereignty. He reiterated that the “security of Qatar is an integrated part of the security of Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf”.

The minister called on the UN Security Council and the international community to assume their ethical and legal responsibilities toward the repeated Israeli attacks, take urgent action to halt them, hold accountable the perpetrators, and ensure the rules of international law, and the region’s stability and security. In addition, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah contacted Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, voicing Kuwait’s strong denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggression. During the call, His Highness the Amir affirmed Kuwait’s full support to Qatar’s leadership, government and people in all measures and decisions taken to maintain its sovereignty, security and stability. His Highness the Amir also emphasized that Kuwait is ready to put all its potential under the disposal of Qatar, saying the “security and stability of Qatar is an integrated part of the security and stability of Kuwait”.

Moreover, the Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met the Amir of Qatar at Lusail Palace and conveyed the condolences of His Highness the Amir to Sheikh Tamim and the Qatari people over the martyrdom of Al-Dosari due to the brutal Israeli attack, praying to Allah the Almighty to bestow his mercy upon the martyr’s soul and a rapid recovery to those wounded. His Highness the Crown Prince affirmed Kuwait’s unwavering stance that condemns the brutal Israeli aggression, noting that it is a blatant infringement of international laws and norms and a perilous threat to the region’s security and stability. His Highness the Crown Prince called on the international community and the Security Council to bear their responsibilities to safeguard international security and peace, and stop the Israeli occupation attacks.(KUNA)