Arab-Islamic ministerial committee convenes in Türkiye for ‘lasting peace’ in Middle East

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League Ministerial Committee will meet on Friday in Türkiye’s southwestern coastal city of Antalya to discuss a “two-state solution and lasting peace in the Middle East,” according to diplomatic sources.

The Gaza Contact Group meeting, hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, will take place prior to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which is scheduled for April 11-13.

Foreign ministers from Bahrain, Indonesia, Palestine, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan are set to attend, marking the first time the ministerial committee meets in Türkiye and its 20th overall session.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, OIC Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha, and representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Slovenia, China, Russia, and the European Union are also expected to participate.

FM Fidan to address worsening situation in Gaza

Fidan is anticipated to address the worsening situation in Gaza after Israel broke a cease-fire on March 18, further escalating tensions in the West Bank and Jerusalem. He will also highlight the declining prospects for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

The Turkish foreign minister is expected to call for intensified efforts to achieve a lasting cease-fire, the release of hostages and detainees, and full humanitarian access to Gaza. Fidan is also expected to reaffirm support for Egypt and Qatar’s efforts to mediate a comprehensive agreement.

He will emphasize that the two-state solution remains the only viable option, allowing Palestinians to live in their homeland and fostering peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis.

Fidan will also underline Türkiye’s steadfast commitment to halting the destruction in Gaza, ensuring a lasting cease-fire, preventing Israel’s expansion in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, promoting Palestinian reconciliation, and keeping the two-state solution at the forefront of international diplomacy.

Last meeting on March 23

During a Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh on November 11, 2023, Türkiye, Palestine, Indonesia, Qatar, Egypt, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the OIC, and Arab League secretaries-general were tasked with leading international initiatives for a lasting peace in Gaza. Bahrain and the UAE later joined these efforts.

The ministerial committee, also known as the Gaza Contact Group, has coordinated initiatives in various global cities, including London, Paris, New York, Washington, Ottawa, Brussels, Oslo, Madrid, Cairo, and Amman.

The group’s last meeting took place in Cairo on March 23, with Fidan also in attendance.