Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
In a significant diplomatic push, Saudi Arabia is hosting a joint Arab-Islamic summit to address the deteriorating situation in Gaza. Leaders from Iran, Turkey, Syria, Palestine, and other nations are participating in the summit, which aims to unify efforts and establish a collective position in response to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
Key Points:
1. Immediate Cessation of Military Operations:
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman delivered the opening remarks, urging an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza. He emphasized the failure of the international community and the UN Security Council to address Israel’s violations of international humanitarian laws.
2. Call for Peace and Palestinian Rights:
Crown Prince MBS asserted that the only path to peace is the end of the Israeli occupation, illegal settlements, and the restoration of established rights for the Palestinian people, including the establishment of a state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
3. Escalation in the West Bank:
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas highlighted the escalating raids by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. He called on the United States administration to intervene against “Israel’s aggression, the occupation, violation, and desecration of our holy sites.”
4. International Accountability:
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani questioned the international community’s response to Israel’s actions and emphasized the need to hold Israel accountable for its actions, especially the shelling of hospitals.
5. Exceptional Summit:
The joint summit, announced by Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry, emerged as a response to the exceptional circumstances in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. It replaces two initially scheduled summits—one for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and one for the Arab League.
6. Egypt’s Call for Ceasefire:
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt condemned the policy of “collective punishment” by Israel and called for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.
7. Iran’s Warning and Demand:
President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran warned of an expanded war if Israel persists in its attacks. Raisi urged Islamic governments to designate Israel’s army as a terrorist organization and criticized the U.S. for supporting Israel in the UN.
8. Arab League’s Stance:
The Arab League, represented by assistant secretary-general Hossam Zaki, aims to demonstrate a unified position on the international stage to stop aggression, support Palestine, condemn the Israeli occupation, and hold Israel accountable.
The summit comes amid heightened diplomatic activity, with leaders from Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan discussing the Gaza situation in Kazakhstan. The international community is intensifying calls for an immediate ceasefire as Israel continues its attacks on Gaza.
Note: The situation is dynamic, and updates will be provided as the summit progresses.
