Muscat – The ‘barbaric war on Gaza’ must stop immediately, H E Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali al Harthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs in the Foreign Ministry, has said. In the same breath, he confirmed that Oman has no intention of normalising relations with Israel.

In an interview with Russia’s state-owned news agency Sputnik, H E Harthy stated that recent normalisation between Israel and several regional countries has failed to advance the Palestinian rights, instead enabled further abuses and delays.

“The important issue now is not whether or not we normalise, but rather reaching a solution to the Palestinian issue and giving the Palestinians their rights.”

He noted that Muscat is actively engaging with the international community and key regional players to de-escalate tensions and prevent further conflict, and clarified that “Oman is not directly communicating with Tel Aviv or mediating between it and Iran”.

H E Harthy highlighted His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s commitment to Palestinian solidarity and support for ending attacks on civilians; urging the international community to uphold its responsibilities in granting Palestinians their right to an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

H E Harthy reiterated Oman’s call for Arab unity, achievable through strengthening the Arab League and regional organisations dedicated to joint Arab action. He acknowledged the Middle East’s crucial role in international security due to its strategic location and historical challenges.

Despite ongoing provocations from Israel, H E Harthy stated that Oman does not anticipate a major regional war, citing the prudence and rationality of the regional countries.

“Oman is working with global partners to prevent conflict,” he said, adding that it insists on an immediate ceasefire, attributing regional tensions primarily to Israel’s actions in Palestine.

He also criticised the current UN mechanisms for addressing the Palestinian issue, suggesting that they have proven inadequate, particularly in light of the Ukrainian crisis. “The majority of countries in the world, especially the Third World countries, including Oman, demand a radical reform of the UN mechanisms.”

On the status of Russia and China in international peace and security issues, H E Harthy asserted that these two countries “are pivotal global players and permanent members of the Security Council”, and that they bear “significant responsibility for international peace and security”.

“In Oman, we believe that achieving global peace and security necessitates cooperation and understanding among all major countries, particularly the Security Council’s permanent members, while considering the aspirations of other nations. We consistently advocate for global consensus to address contemporary challenges, including political issues and concerns related to the environment, climate, energy, and sustainable development.”

On the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, he remarked, “The reestablishment of diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Tehran has indeed contributed to regional stability. As two major regional powers, their mutual understanding is crucial.”