Marrakech, 21 December 2023: Russia and the Arab League called jointly for a UN ceasefire resolution for Gaza on Wednesday during the 8th Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The forum, which usually centers on diplomatic and economic ties, was dominated by the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
“We hope that the Security Council will raise its voice for a mature resolution (calling for a ceasefire),” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during the meeting.
“We have agreed to continue coordination within the United Nations,” he added.
In addition, a resolution urging a pause to hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip was scheduled for a vote by the UN Security Council later on Wednesday.
Israel’s attacks in Gaza have killed more than 19,600 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
On October 7, Hamas carried out an coordinated offense against Israel from Gaza, killing around 1,140 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures.
Chaired by Foreign Minister of Morocco, Nasser Bourita, the meeting was attended by Lavrov and diplomats from the 22-member Arab League.
Hossam Zaki, the assistant secretary general of the league, stated, “We hope that the Security Council can adopt this resolution and that there will not be a veto from a permanent member, notably the United States.”
“The Arab hope is that the United States understands that international patience is exhausted in the face of Israel’s practices.”
Speaking via videoconference, Arab League Chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit called for an “immediate ceasefire,” adding that “anyone who opposes an immediate ceasefire in Gaza has the blood of innocents on their hands”.
Aboul Gheit called for the “creation as quickly as possible of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders” and stated that “the occupation is the heart of the problem and the origin of the cause.”
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Furthermore, according to Lavrov, “some sources say that our Western partners are trying to develop hidden projects to separate the West Bank from Gaza,” and that it is “urgent to create a Palestinian state” and even “accelerate the process.”
On December 8, the US vetoed a ceasefire resolution.
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