RIYADH: A ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Britain condemned on Wednesday the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s restrictions on aid that have exacerbated famine and human suffering.

The ministers, meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, called on all parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law, including those related to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The UK and the GCC resolved to continue working closely together to pursue peace in unstable and conflict-afflicted regions, a joint statement said. 

They underscored their countries commitment to promoting peace and working together to resolve conflicts and address instability.

The ministers also welcomed the high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian Cause and the implementation of the two-state solution, co-chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France.

There must be unified Palestinian-led governance in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, said the statement.

The GCC and UK also condemned Israel’s strike on Doha on Sept. 9, which constituted a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty. They underscored their support for Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter. 

On the issue of trade between the UK and the Gulf nations, the ministers agreed on the importance of growing two-way trade and investment further to advance mutual growth and prosperity.

Bilateral trade exceeded $72 billion in 2024.

The GCC and UK also reaffirmed their commitment to the promotion of free trade. Both sides restated their commitment to prioritizing conclusion of the GCC-UK Free Trade Agreement, recognizing that a commercially meaningful deal would further enhance trade and investment ties, benefit businesses, and support high skilled job creation in the UK and GCC member states, the statement added.