*Turkey to host Islamic summit in Istanbul on Friday to discuss the latest developments in Palestine
*Cabinet asks UNSC to protect Palestinians from Israeli aggression and to recognise their rights

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held a telephone conversation on Wednesday with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

At the outset of the call, the Amir and the president exchanged greetings on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.

Erdogan invited the Amir to attend the Islamic summit scheduled for Friday in Istanbul, to discuss the latest developments in Palestine amidst the massacres carried out by the Israeli forces against the defenceless Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Amir accepted the invitation.

Addressing a press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May in London on Tuesday, Erdogan said the Islamic summit would send a very strong message to the world from Istanbul, adding that all members of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) were invited.

Qatar's Cabinet on Wednesday condemned the brutal massacre committed by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza Strip on Monday.

HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular weekly meeting at its Emiri Diwan premises.

After the meeting, HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr Hassan bin Lahdan al-Hassan al-Mohannadi said that the martyrs and wounded Palestinians were participating peacefully to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, and their opposition to the relocation of the US embassy to occupied Jerusalem in disregard of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy.

“Qatar is following with deep concern the serious developments which obstruct any serious efforts to revive the peace process on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative.

“The Cabinet renews its call upon the Security Council (UNSC) to intervene urgently and decisively to protect the Palestinian people from the Israeli aggression and to recognise their legitimate national rights, foremost of which is the right to establish their independent state in accordance with the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.”

The Cabinet approved a draft decision of the Council of Ministers to establish the Permanent Medical Committee for the Assessment of Fitness and Disability in the Ministry of Public Health.

The committee shall be competent to hear requests submitted by governmental and non-governmental entities.

The Cabinet also approved the unified definition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country, and decided that the Ministry of Economy and Commerce shall take the necessary measures to issue the definition.

The Cabinet approved a draft decision of the Council of Ministers establishing a permanent committee of penal and correctional institutions.

The Ministry of Interior prepared the draft decision within the framework of the provisions of Law No. (3) of 2009 on the organisation of penal and correctional institutions, which stipulate that a permanent committee of penal and correctional institutions shall be established in the ministry.

The committee shall be responsible for developing the general policy for the development of these institutions and the methods of rehabilitation and reform, and recommending the subsequent care for those released.

The formation of the committee and its terms of reference shall be determined by a decision of the Council of Ministers upon the minister's proposal.

The Cabinet approved the hosting of the International Junior Science Olympiad in Doha in December 2019.

The cabinet approved the ratification of three memorandums of understanding (MoU) signed in Washington DC on January 30.

They are on the launch of a strategic dialogue between Qatar and the US, for cooperation in the fields of energy between the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Qatar and the Department of Energy of the US, and for co-operation in combating human trafficking between Qatar and the US.

The Cabinet approved a draft memorandum of understanding for co-operation in cybersecurity between Qatar Central Bank and the Defence and Security Organisation of the Department for International Trade in the UK.

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