![Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan speaks to the press during a press conference with the contact Group of the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at Four Seasons Hotel in Washington D.C., United States on December 8, 2023 [Celal Güneş/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AA-20231208-33137681-33137678-ORGANIZATION_OF_ISLAMIC_COOPERATION_OIC_AND_ARAB_LEAGUE_CONTACT_GROUP_PRESS_CONFERENCE_IN_WASHINGTON_DC-scaled-e1702200262468.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Saudi Arabia said, Tuesday, that Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is a “war crime” and a “humanitarian catastrophe”, according to Saudi state channel, Al-Ikhbariya.
The failure to reach a ceasefire in Gaza for nearly a year is evidence of the “repeated failure of the international security system,” Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, said at a news conference in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, Anadolu Agency reports.
Bin Farhan criticised Israel’s intransigence and refusal to agree to a ceasefire.
He also stressed the need to re-evaluate the entire international security system, emphasizing that “the recognition of a Palestinian State by certain countries sends a clear message, rejecting the denial of Palestinians’ rights to self-determination.”
“We are calling for the implementation of international law, not something impossible,” said Bin Farhan.
The Israeli onslaught has killed more than 41,000 victims, mostly women and children, and injured nearly 95,000, according to local health authorities.
An ongoing blockade of the enclave has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.
Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.