Bahrain King calls for immediate end to Gaza war

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain's His Majesty made a strong plea to facilitate the delivery of vital humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, food, water, fuel, and electricity, to the besieged Gaza Strip.

He expressed his gratitude to Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi for his tireless efforts in mobilising political and diplomatic initiatives at both regional and international levels to contain the dangerous escalation in the Gaza Strip and mitigate its far-reaching repercussions.

The Cairo Summit, under El-Sisi’s leadership, serves as a significant platform for addressing these critical issues.

Israeli troops are massed on the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground invasion that officials have pledged will begin “soon”.

Later, during talks with King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, on the sidelines of the summit, His Majesty issued a strong call for the immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza, warning that continued violence could lead to a perilous escalation.

“This will push the region into a dangerous slide and new spiral of violence,” HM said told King Al Hussein of Jordan.

In this regard, HM emphasised the necessity of intensified and unified Arab endeavours efforts to deescalate the situation in the Gaza Strip.

The meeting on the sidelines of the Cairo Peace Summit also emphasised the vital role of the international community in expediting the resolution of the conflict.

Their majesties stressed it is crucial to ensure Gaza access to humanitarian aid by lifting the siege and safeguard the lives of civilians in the besieged region. A full-blown Israeli land offensive carries many risks, including to the more than 200 hostages.

“So, the release of the first two hostages -- US mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan -- offered a rare “sliver of hope”, said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

US President Joe Biden said he was “overjoyed” and thanked Qatar, which hosts Hamas’ political bureau, for its mediation in securing the release. Meanwhile, In Gaza, Israeli jets continued the relentless bombing campaign, with the military saying it hit more than 100 Hamas targets overnight.