Leaders from across the Arab and Islamic world convened on Monday in the Saudi capital of Riyadh for an extraordinary summit to address ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.

The attendees included leaders from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Turkiye, Iran, and the Arab League, who went on to discuss key topics including regional sovereignty, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and potential international responses to the Israeli occupation's actions.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan announced the summit in late October, during the first meeting of an international alliance pushing for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Attendees will "discuss the continued Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territories and the Lebanese Republic, and the current developments in the region," the official Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.

Arab and Muslim leaders began to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

It comes one year after a similar gathering in Riyadh of the Cairo-based Arab League and the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during which leaders condemned Israeli forces' actions in Gaza as "barbaric".

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized that this summit was a continuation of previous efforts, describing it as "an extension of the previous summit, which discussed the aggression on Gaza and Lebanon."

He also condemned recent Israeli military actions, calling them an attack on Lebanese sovereignty. Bin Salman voiced strong opposition to the "genocide committed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza," and reiterated Saudi Arabia's support for Palestinian rights, declaring, "The kingdom condemns this aggression and supports the full rights of the Palestinian people."

The Crown Prince also criticized Israeli obstruction of humanitarian efforts, condemning its interference with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). "The occupation prevents UNRWA from providing services in the occupied Palestinian territories, hindering humanitarian organizations," he said.

Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to United Nations Resolution 1701, which aims to maintain peace along the Lebanese-Israeli border. "We are committed to Resolution 1701 in all its terms," he stated, urging support for Lebanon's institutions and the continuation of emergency aid.

Mikati warned of Lebanon's "unprecedented existential crisis due to ongoing Israeli aggression," emphasizing, "The economic impacts of Israeli escalation add to the scale of this tragedy." He further identified the Palestinian cause as the region's foremost issue, calling for "an immediate ceasefire in Gaza."

Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prioritized the protection of Palestinian lives, declaring that "the priority is to stop the genocide and massacres being carried out by the Israeli occupation." al-Assad questioned the meaning of rights "if Palestinians are denied the right to live."

Related News

Iran's defense chief vows continued support for resistance in Syria

Al-Assad meets with Iran's Defense Minister, discuss regional security

He also called for a practical approach, stressing, "We will be partners in the ongoing genocide without an executive plan," urging "sound decisions to prevent further atrocities in Lebanon and Gaza."

Iran

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref underlined that the "false existence of the Zionist entity makes its leaders believe that their survival depends on committing crimes and killings in the occupied Palestinian territories."

In his remarks at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, Aref said, "We have witnessed the killing of tens of thousands of women and children with the support of the United States."

He noted that "due to the US administration's unlimited support for the occupying entity, the international community is unable to halt the genocide and killing of innocent people," emphasizing the need for measures to prevent further Israeli assaults.

The Iranian vice president called for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and urged urgent international coordination to provide humanitarian aid, stressing that this aid is "essential." He also emphasized the importance of making a decisive commitment for the reconstruction of Lebanon and Gaza.

Palestinian Authority

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas highlighted the responsibility of the Arab and Islamic world to respond to the humanitarian crisis. "Our Arab, Islamic, humanitarian, and moral duty requires us to show the highest degree of solidarity," he said, attributing continued Israeli aggression to sustained US support.

Abbas criticized the international community's inaction, stating, "The global community has failed to stop Israeli aggression on Gaza." He called for the suspension of the Israeli occupation's membership in the United Nations if it does not comply with international resolutions, urging "nations worldwide to reconsider their relations with Israel due to its violations of international law."

Egypt

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi highlighted the gravity of the moment, declaring that "the future of the region and the world is now at a crossroads, especially in light of the aggression against Lebanon and Gaza."

El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to resisting efforts to sideline the Palestinian cause, emphasizing, "Cairo will stand against any plans to eliminate the Palestinian issue." He argued that "the essential condition for stability is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state."

Jordan

Jordanian King Abdullah II urged immediate action to alleviate the crisis, calling for a "swift intensification of efforts to break the Gaza blockade, de-escalate tensions in the West Bank, support Lebanese sovereignty, and end the war on Lebanon."

He lamented the international community's failure to curb the Israeli occupation's escalation, remarking, "The international community has failed to restrain Israel, which has intensified its escalation in Palestine and ignited a war on Lebanon." King Abdullah urged a "decisive stance to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and achieve an immediate ceasefire."

Arab League

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the impact of Israeli actions on the region's future, asserting, "What the occupation is doing is destroying the future of peace in the region." Aboul Gheit called for "an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon [...] words are no longer enough for the suffering endured by the Palestinian people."

Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ambitions, accusing the Israeli government of escalating military tensions against Iran while continuing attacks on Lebanon.

He argued that the Israeli goal was "to settle in Gaza and eradicate Palestinian presence in the West Bank and East al-Quds." Erdogan emphasized the need for global action to counter these plans, asserting, "The failure of Islamic countries to respond has brought us to this point." He hoped that "today's meetings will bring good for both the Lebanese and Palestinian people."

Erdogan further called for the Israeli occupation's isolation on the world stage, proposing "international isolation of Israel unless it ends its aggression." He urged all nations to support South Africa's legal case against the occupation at the International Court of Justice and "encourage more countries to recognize the State of Palestine."

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed disappointment over "the double standards on the international stage, which pose a threat to global security," underscoring the importance of an "immediate focus on halting military actions."

Nigeria

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called upon global leaders to "take responsibility for the suffering of the Palestinian people."

The summit concluded with a renewed call for solidarity with Lebanon and Palestine and a plea for immediate international intervention.