Muscat – Speaking on regional and international affairs at a Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik reviewed the critical developments and violence taking place in the Palestinian arena. In this context, His Majesty the Sultan reaffirmed the Sultanate of Oman’s solidarity with the Palestinian people. He reiterated Oman’s support for all efforts calling for de-escalation, notably cessation of attacks on children and innocent civilians.

His Majesty the Sultan also called for release of hostages in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian laws. He urged the international community to shoulder its responsibilities by protecting civilians and lifting the illegal siege on Gaza and the rest of the Palestinian territories.

His Majesty the Sultan called for a resumption of the peace process to enable the Palestinian people to regain all their legitimate rights, notably the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders, with Al Quds Al Sharqiyah (East Jerusalem) as its capital, as per the principle of the Two-state Solution, the Arab Peace Initiative and all relevant UN resolutions.