NEW YORK, December 13, 2024 (WAFA) – Saudi Arabia has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel's ongoing genocide has been going on for over 14 months.

The kingdom also urged the international community to increase support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The statement was delivered by Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, during a special session of the UN General Assembly in New York on the evening of December 12.

Al-Wasil condemned the "abusive use of the veto" and the selective application of international law, arguing that these factors have contributed to the continuation of Israel's "genocidal war" and the expansion of Israeli crimes in Gaza. 

He further emphasized that the lack of accountability has only intensified the suffering of the Palestinian people.

The ambassador reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s strong support for the vital role of UNRWA, denouncing Israeli legislative actions aimed at undermining the agency’s work. 

He called for the international community to actively participate in the high-level international conference scheduled for June 2025 in New York, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, aimed at finding a resolution to the Palestinian issue.

Ambassador Al-Wasil reiterated Saudi Arabia's unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their rights, emphasizing that peace remains the kingdom's strategic objective. 

He stressed that this peace should be based on the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative, in accordance with international legitimacy.

M.N