On 30 November 2024, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi opened the Eleventh Gulf Studies Forum by welcoming attendees and participants, following an introduction by Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Unit Researcher, Alanoud Al-Khalifa. Al-Khulaifi began his talk by stressing the role of the Arab Center in spreading public awareness of the matters concerning the region, especially the Gulf. He also emphasized the status of the Palestine question as a pivotal issue for Muslim and Arab countries, including those in the Gulf, which attempt to harness its capacities to support Palestinian resilience and efforts to decide their own fate. He noted that the stability and security of the region are intertwined with a just solution to the Palestine question, and, accordingly, making it a moral commitment for the Gulf states.

Al-Khulaifi highlighted the settlement project in Palestine and the continued struggle and steadfastness of the Palestinian people, attesting to the legitimacy of their demands and their right to self-determination. He argued that the solution will manifest in the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. In this context, the Gulf states are firm in their support for the right of Palestinians to establish their state, he insisted, pointing to the cooperation and ties between Gulf citizens and the Palestinians, stemming from their contributions to the development of the region.

Al-Khulaifi discussed the destruction left by Israel’s war on Gaza, later extended to Lebanon, noting that the international community must adhere to a strict position to bring about an end to the genocide, killing, and displacement, and to protect the Palestinian people. He expressed his fears that this tragedy is becoming normalized, while drawing on the popular support worldwide that proves that Israel cannot blind the world from the reality of its crimes.

He stressed that Qatar is working tirelessly to ensure that the Palestinian people can secure their right to a decent life, and alluded to its efforts to facilitate constructive dialogue, as it remains unwavering in its support for Palestinian rights. He highlighted Qatar’s efforts to implement the temporary truce in November 2023, to deliver aid, and transfer patients in critical need for treatment.

He explained that Qatar’s mediation efforts stem from Arab and Islamic values, to pursue justice and fairness, based on its foreign policy prioritizing security and peace and supporting people’s right to self-determination. He also stressed the importance of popular pressure, noting that the effectiveness of international solidarity can outstrip that of armies. Accordingly, a political solution is necessary to restore peace and stability to the Middle East, and work must be done to enable the Palestinian people to establish their independent state, through continued political and development support, and investment in education, health, and the economy.

Al-Khulaifi concluded by saying that Qatar will remain one of greatest supporters of peace and justice efforts, stressing its pivotal role in promoting dialogue and peacemaking through mediation and other tools. He called for transforming the ideas emerging from the Forum into practical steps that enhance stability and sustainable peace in the region.