New York, Feb. 17 (SANA) An Arab-Islamic Troika delegation met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at UN headquarters in New York to reaffirm the importance of maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza and rejecting Israeli annexation plans in the West Bank.
The delegation, represented at the level of permanent ambassadors, discussed recent developments in the occupied Palestinian territory and warned against Israeli measures aimed at annexing parts of the West Bank.
According to WAFA news agency, the Troika was co-chaired by Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, in his capacity as chair of the Arab Group, and Turkey’s ambassador in his capacity as chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, along with a number of Arab ambassadors.
During the meeting, the delegation stressed the need for the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to assume its responsibilities in halting Israeli actions, especially annexation measures, which it said constitute a violation of international law and undermine efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
Guterres reiterated that recent Israeli decisions and actions are illegal and obstruct prospects for implementing the two-state solution.
Palestine’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, reviewed recent regional developments and conveyed messages from the Palestinian leadership to the Secretary-General and Security Council members, stressing the need for clear and effective steps to curb what he described as Israeli escalation.
Regarding a Security Council meeting scheduled for Feb. 19, Guterres said it presents an opportunity for the Council to adopt a clear position on annexation measures.
R.A
