Foreign Minister of Oman Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi has called on the international community to conduct an independent investigation into the Israeli aggression and to prosecute Israel for its deliberate targeting of civilians in the Gaza Strip and their facilities, depriving them of their humanitarian needs, starving them, and subjecting them to siege and collective punishment..
The Omani Foreign Minister told Oman News Agency (ONA) that his country is committed to political solutions based on dialogue and the rule of international law and the need for the international community to intervene to stop the war on Gaza and deter Israel from violating international law and continuing its military operations in killing civilians inside the Gaza Strip and demolishing civilian facilities, buildings and neighborhoods in all Palestinian territories.
The Minister of Foreign said: "My firm belief is that violence is not a solution, which we strongly condemn because the victims are often children and civilians. If we remember previous historical experiences, we see with certainty the impossibility of achieving a military solution to the Palestinian issue or to the Arab-Israeli conflict."
"If we want a final and just solution, this does not come militarily, but rather through peaceful means. That is, the possible and sustainable solution lies in political solutions, dialogue, and a strong and shared commitment to achieving peace," he added.
Oman is committed to political solutions based on dialogue and the rule of international law, he said, stressing the role and commitment of international organizations, especially the United Nations and its Security Council, as the value of constructive international interaction lies in protecting the rights of civilians in peace and war. Therefore, the enormous potential of global frameworks is sufficient to create the necessary conditions to stop the conflict and adopt peaceful solutions to it, he added.
The Omani Minister considered that Israel's current military action is not a necessary measure for self-defense, as all countries condemn and deplore the targeting of civilians, regardless of the nationalities of their residents, because this contradicts all the values in which we believe, emphasising that "the Israeli response is extremely excessive and blatantly exaggerated, especially targeting civilians. Here we must not forget also that the Palestinian people also have the right to defend themselves."
The Foreign Minister noted that the forced displacement of civilians in the northern Gaza Strip, pushing them to move south, is widely seen as a prelude to genocide in accordance with Article 2 of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. He also considered the siege imposed on Gaza, which prevents civilians from accessing water, electricity, food, and fuel, as unlawful and possibly constituting war crimes, and that these collective measures are prohibited under Article 33 of the Geneva Convention.
Regarding the immediate steps that should be taken, he explained that Oman believes it is the responsibility of the international community to intervene in order to halt this war in Gaza, deter Israel from violating international law, and stop its military operations that target civilians within the Gaza Strip, including the destruction of infrastructure, buildings, and residential areas. He called for an immediate ceasefire, the establishment of a monitored ceasefire by independent United Nations observers, and the necessity of devising urgent plans for the direct and immediate delivery of required humanitarian aid and assistance to the Gaza Strip.
He emphasized that his country and the GCC states are committed to supporting humanitarian relief efforts for the Gaza Strip and immediately identifying the root causes that led to this crisis.
He also called on the international community to take strong, deterrent and punitive measures against the brutal statements and threats issued by Israeli officials.
