Jasem Al Budaiwi also says Gulf nations believe in dialogue with Iran and the Houthis in spite of major obstacles
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As the war in Gaza continues to bring destruction and suffering to the Palestinian people and deepens instability across the region, there is increasing unease around the Arab world.
How the war ends and its long-term impact are yet to be determined, but what is clear is the region has changed dramatically.
In an interview with media, Jasem Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said: “Gaza’s war did not just change the region, it changed many of the international standards. It changed the whole world in a major way.
“What happens in Gaza doesn’t just stay in Gaza, there is a fallout all over the world,” he warned.
Mr Al Budaiwi stressed the necessity of a ceasefire in Gaza ahead of Ramadan, and for Israel to halt its attacks on the enclave, while he also expressed “surprise” at some of the political positions and stances in international forums.
“There is no justification in any way whatsoever that allows 30,000 people to be killed in this manner and the international community is incapable in even condemning this or calling for a ceasefire,” he said.
The six countries of the GCC – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – have produced a high level of co-ordination on Gaza, while also each having their own position. Within days of Israel’s strikes on Gaza after Hamas’s attack on October 7, the GGC foreign ministers met in an extraordinary session.
Mr Al Budaiwi said the meeting concluded swiftly, within 45 minutes, as every member was on the same page.
“Everybody was saying to the other person exactly what they wanted to. One common stand, coming up with $100 million [in humanitarian aid] in 45 minutes is an amazing achievement in politics.
“This is political integration at its best.”
On how the war ends, Mr Al Budaiwi said: “The ceasefire must come first at the least, even if temporary, so we can work on de-escalation, allow aid to come in, treat the wounded who are in need in urgent care.”
As for the long term, “we hope for a genuine international effort to get to a transitional solution, a first phase of a ceasefire, allowing aid in, treating the Palestinians, who are hurt not only physically but mentally”.
“We need to reinstate Palestinian faith in the world, then we can talk about a two-state solution and a coming Palestinian government and elections.” He stressed “it will be a long process. We first must calm the situation. That should be the message from the international community, from Israel’s friends to Israel”.
While not naming the US directly, which has vetoed resolutions aimed at enforcing a ceasefire, Mr Al Budaiwi, who previously served as Kuwait’s ambassador to Washington, was clearly exasperated by the American position on Palestine.
However, he was also clear on the strength of GCC ties with the US. “There is no doubt that the six countries of the GCC have exemplary and special relations with the United States, based on mutual interests and historic ties,” he noted.
As a sign of the strength of those ties, the US was the only country with which the GCC held two ministerial-level meetings with in 2023.
“We speak in all openness with the Americans. I think we agree with them on many issues, but our primary problem with them is how they deal with Israel,” said Mr Budaiwi.
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