Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt and Pakistan condemn Houthi attacks at Istanbul meeting

ISTANBUL — Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt and Pakistan strongly condemned the escalation by the Houthi terrorist militia in Yemen, including its attacks on Saudi Arabia, civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.The four countries called for an immediate cessation of all military activities, threats and attacks, urging the Houthis to return to the political process in good faith.The foreign ministers of the four countries, meeting in Istanbul as part of a quadrilateral ministerial group, expressed their full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government, stressing that the unacceptable Houthi escalation has aggravated the humanitarian suffering in Yemen.The meeting addressed several regional and international issues, particularly developments in Yemen and Palestine, tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and growing threats to maritime security.In a separate expanded meeting, the four foreign ministers were joined by their counterparts from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom to discuss Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government, the US-Israeli-Iranian conflict, developments in the Palestinian territories, and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab and the Black Sea.The ministers emphasized the importance of resolving regional conflicts through dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation, while pursuing sustainable negotiated solutions based on relevant United Nations resolutions.They also agreed to maintain close coordination and consultations to prevent further conflicts and strengthen regional and international peace and stability.Maritime security and Iran conflictAddressing tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, particularly developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the ministers stressed that diplomatic engagement and dialogue must remain the means of resolving the conflict.They called for avoiding attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including commercial vessels, and expressed support for the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad.The ministers welcomed diplomatic initiatives aimed at preventing further escalation and reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a sustainable negotiated settlement.They underscored the critical importance of permanently safeguarding freedom of navigation and maritime safety, warning that disruptions to major shipping routes threaten national security and economic prosperity.Such disruptions, they said, undermine global supply chains and the movement of energy, fertilizers and food, placing additional pressure on vulnerable populations both within and beyond the region.The ministers rejected any measures or restrictions that obstruct legitimate maritime navigation and called for the swift and complete restoration of safe, unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz.They also emphasized the need for collective international action to address threats to the security of strategic maritime routes.Palestinian issueOn Palestine, the ministers described the Israeli occupation as a primary source of instability in the region and beyond, saying Israeli policies have reinforced perceptions of injustice among the international public.They reaffirmed their support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian state.The ministers called for the urgent implementation of the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.They said such a solution was essential to achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East.The ministers also demanded an immediate end to ongoing Israeli violence and attempts to alter Jerusalem's legal and historical status.They condemned Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as settler violence against Palestinians, and called for an end to the destruction and humanitarian suffering in the Palestinian territories.The ministers stressed the importance of ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and continuing reconstruction efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.At the conclusion of the meetings, participants agreed to continue close consultations and coordination on the issues discussed, while intensifying diplomatic efforts to contain tensions and promote peace and stability across the region and beyond.