Cairo (Egypt) – Arab Parliament has strongly condemned Israel’s recent decision to build 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. It also denounced Israeli airstrikes near Syria’s Presidential Palace and escalating violence in Gaza.
On Saturday, the Cairo-based Arab Parliament issued a statement condemning Israel’s settlement expansion. Lawmakers described the decision as a “blatant violation” of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2334.
They warned the move undermines all hopes for peace and permanently blocks the path to a two-state solution. The Parliament called on the UN Security Council to act immediately to stop these violations and hold Israeli authorities accountable.
Arab Parliament Urging Recognition of Palestine
In the same statement, the Arab Parliament urged countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so. This recognition, it said, supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and helps build international pressure.
Arab Parliament calls for Joint Arab Action in Istanbul
A day earlier, Arab parliamentary leaders gathered in Istanbul, Türkiye, for the inaugural meeting of the Parliamentary Group in Solidarity with Palestine.
During the event, Qatar’s Shura Council Speaker Hassan Al-Ghanim called for coordinated parliamentary action. He emphasized that mere condemnation is no longer enough as over 51,000 people have died in Gaza since October 2023.
“Parliaments must act together,” Al-Ghanim said, “to pressure the international community into forcing Israel to stop its assault on Gaza.”
Gaza: A Humanitarian Catastrophe
Al-Ghanim highlighted that Gaza is now uninhabitable. The area suffers from severe shortages of food, water, shelter, and access to healthcare.
Meanwhile, Palestinian National Council Speaker Rawhi Fattouh urged global parliaments to confront what he described as “Israel’s genocide in Gaza” and aggression in the West Bank.
He stated, “The Palestinian land remains the only territory still under occupation. This is a disgrace to the world’s conscience.”
Türkiye’s Role in the Palestinian Cause
Fattouh praised Türkiye’s active stance. He commended its rejection of the Israeli occupation and support for the Palestinian people against what he called a “genocidal war.”
The Parliamentary Group in Solidarity with Palestine, launched by Türkiye’s Grand National Assembly, aims to rally legislative bodies worldwide to oppose Israel’s war in Gaza.
Arab-Islamic Parliamentary Cooperation
In Jakarta, during the 19th session of the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States, Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi met with Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Dr. Abdullah Al-Asheikh.
They discussed the role of parliamentary diplomacy and stressed the need for unified Arab action. Their meeting focused on reinforcing Arab parliamentary cooperation to defend shared causes, especially Palestine.
Condemnation of Israeli Airstrikes in Syria
In a related move, the Arab League and Arab Parliament both condemned Israeli airstrikes near Syria’s Presidential Palace. They warned these attacks could destabilize the region further and violate Syrian sovereignty.
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https://parliamentjournal.com/2025/05/02/arab-parliament-inaugurates-its-fourth-session-in-baghdad-8794/