Kuwait urges UN chief to stop Israeli aggression

KUWAIT: Kuwait called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon yesterday to urge the international community to put an end to the Israeli “aggression” in Gaza which has claimed more than 550 lives. The call came in a meeting between Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and Ban who arrived in Kuwait on Monday in the second leg of a regional tour aimed at pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza. The UN chief was separately received by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the official KUNA news agency reported.

The foreign minister “renewed Kuwait’s support for the Palestinian people and condemned all Israeli acts of aggression,” KUNA said following the meeting. “He called on the UN Secretary General to urge the international community to shoulder responsibility to put an end to this dangerous aggression,” it said. The foreign minister also reiterated Kuwait’s support for the Egyptian truce proposal which was rejected by Hamas for failing to meet its conditions. The two officials also discussed developments in Syria and Iraq.

Kuwait, which holds the rotating presidency of the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), received Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal on Sunday and expressed support for the Palestinians. But the Gulf state also announced its backing for the Egyptian truce proposal. In Doha, Ban urged Israel on Sunday to “exercise maximum restraint” and spare civilian lives in its campaign in Gaza. He also condemned the “atrocious action” of Israel’s attack on Shejaiya, near Gaza City, where a blistering assault that started at dawn killed 62 people and wounded at least 250. Ban is also travelling to Cairo, Jerusalem, Ramallah and Amman. US Secretary of State John Kerry also arrived in the Egyptian capital later yesterday.

Hamas chief visits Kuwait, meets Kuwait's Amir

KUWAIT: Kuwait called on the international community yesterday to apply pressure on Israel to “stop its aggression” on Gaza following a visit by Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal to the state. Kuwait, which holds the rotating presidency of both the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), also announced its backing for an Egyptian truce proposal which was turned down by Hamas. Meshaal held talks on the conflict with HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and met with Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, according to the state KUNA news agency.

The foreign minister “reiterated his call on the international community to shoulder humanitarian responsibility by applying pressure on Israel to stop its aggression, and providing protection for the Palestinian people,” KUNA reported. The minister “affirmed Kuwait’s commitment and support for the Egyptian truce initiative which calls for an immediate ceasefire.” He also stressed the state’s support for the Palestinian people and “condemned all Israeli criminal and aggression acts in Gaza that led to the killing and wounding of scores of innocent victims”. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is due in Kuwait today for talks with the Amir over diplomatic efforts for a Gaza truce, KUNA said.