Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan condemn "Houthi" terrorist attacks on the Kingdom and call for an immediate halt

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan strongly condemned the unacceptable escalation by the terrorist Houthi militia and its continued attacks on the Kingdom, particularly those targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab. They expressed their full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government, calling on the militia to immediately halt all attacks and return to the political process in good faith.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported in a statement that this came from a joint statement issued following a meeting of the ministers of the “Quadrilateral Group” in Istanbul, which discussed a number of regional issues of common interest. This was in line with their commitment to contributing to diplomatic efforts and guided by the shared interest in enhancing peace and stability in the region and beyond, in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter.

The ministers emphasized in their joint statement the urgent need to resolve this conflict exclusively through dialogue and diplomacy, and to prevent the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including ships. They expressed their support for the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad, welcomed ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation, and reaffirmed their commitment to a sustainable negotiated settlement.

They underscored the paramount importance of freedom of navigation, the permanent safety and security of maritime navigation, and the protection of navigation rights and freedoms. They noted that disrupting sea lanes threatens the security and prosperity of all by hindering global supply chains and the flow of energy, fertilizers, and food, thereby affecting vulnerable populations in the region and beyond. This requires collective efforts by the international community to address these challenges.

The ministers expressed their rejection of any measures or restrictions that impede legitimate navigation and called for the swift and full resumption of safe, secure, and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

On another note, the ministers affirmed that the Israeli occupation constitutes the primary source of instability in the region and beyond, and that Israeli policies deepen a profound sense of injustice in global public opinion. They called for the immediate implementation of the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and reaffirmed their support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, with the aim of achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

They called for an immediate halt to ongoing Israeli violence and to attempts to alter the legal and historical status of Jerusalem, and to put an end to further destruction and humanitarian tragedy in Palestine. They condemned all past and present settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as settler violence against Palestinians, and stressed the urgent need for the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza.

The statement noted that the ministers agreed to continue consultations and close coordination on the issues discussed.