Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 62 martyrs killed by IOF in Gaza since morning, including 32 aid seekers.
Reuters: More than 20 injured in Los Angeles, including four critically, after a car rammed into a crowd
NNA: A civilian was killed in a drone strike while fixing plumbing on a rooftop in Matal al-Jabal, on the outskirts of al-Khiam
Israeli media: In coordination with US, Israeli authorities approved Syrian regime plan to deploy thousands of internal security forces in Sweida to enforce ceasefire.
Al-Sharaa: We thank tribes for their stance, not all Druze can be judged for actions of a few.
Al-Sharaa: Syria not a testing field for secessionist plans.
Al-Sharaa: We laud US for role in securing ceasefire, Syrian state is only side capable of preserving country's sovereignty.
Al-Sharaa: Israeli intervention is one of reasons of return of tensions in Suweida following blatant bombing of South and Damascus.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa: We received international calls to intervene in situation in Suweida and restore security.
Syrian Presidency warns of any violation of ceasefire, says it will constitute a violation of sovereignty.

Baghdad hosts 34th Arab League Summit amid Gaza war, regional tensions

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen + Agencies
  • 17 May 2025 09:30
3 Min Read

The summit will be held amid the ongoing and escalating Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the worsening humanitarian crisis.

Listen
  • x
  • Baghdad hosts 34th Arab League Summit amid Gaza war, regional tensions
    This handout picture released by the media office of Iraq's prime minister shows Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (L) arriving in Baghdad ahead of the 34th Arab League summit on May 16, 2025 (IRAQI PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS OFFICE/AFP)

Baghdad is set to host the 34th Arab League Summit today, Saturday, amid the ongoing and escalating Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the worsening humanitarian crisis and following a Gulf tour by US President Donald Trump, who reaffirmed his desire to “take control” of the territory.

The summit is taking place amid significant regional changes, with the participation of Arab leaders, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose country recognized the State of Palestine last year and who is considered one of “Israel’s” strongest critics in Europe.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Baghdad on Friday afternoon, while a diplomatic source reported that most Gulf countries will be represented at the ministerial level.

Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon top the agenda

Ihsan al-Shammari, a professor of strategic studies at the University of Baghdad, said the summit will discuss "a comprehensive initiative to stop the war in Gaza, reconstruction, and humanitarian aid," in addition to "supporting the transitional phase in Syria and the new government in Lebanon."

Related News

Hamas hails Arab Summit, calls for sanctions on 'Israel'

Arab Summit reaffirms centrality of Palestine, joint Arab action

The summit follows an emergency meeting held in Cairo last March, which adopted a plan for Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of the Palestinian Authority to the territory, as an alternative to Trump’s plan that calls for the forced displacement of residents and placing the Strip under US control.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated that the Baghdad summit “will uphold” the decisions of the Cairo summit, emphasizing that the Palestinian cause tops the agenda.

Summit of 'unique nature'

Al-Shammari noted the “unique nature of the summit given Israel’s rhetoric about a new Middle East that includes a large portion of Arab countries,” following the Israeli occupation’s May 5 announcement of a plan to “occupy” Gaza, which includes the forced internal displacement of its population.

During his Gulf tour, Trump said from Doha, “I would be proud if the United States owned Gaza and turned it into a zone of freedom.”

The summit is also being held at a time when Syria’s new authorities are working to consolidate power and forge new internal and external relationships. Trump met with Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s transitional president, in Riyadh after announcing the suspension of sanctions imposed on Syria under the previous regime.

The White House stated that Trump presented al-Shara with a series of demands, most notably joining the normalization agreements with “Israel”. Syria's interim president will not participate in the summit due to political objections within Iraq, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani will lead the Syrian delegation instead.

US-Iran talks, regional impact

The Arab meeting is also taking place as Iran engages in critical talks with the United States and European countries over its nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions. Trump said this week that an agreement with Tehran on its nuclear program is close.

Al-Shammari stated that Arab leaders “will discuss in their closed sessions the potential outcomes of these talks and their impact,” both if a settlement is reached or not, thus leading to a possible clash.

  • Arab summit
  • Baghdad
  • Iraq
  • Arab League

Most Read

Algerian nurse stabbed in Germany

Murder of Algerian nurse in Germany sparks outcry, demands for justice

  • Europe
  • 14 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025
Al-Qassam Brigades fighters confront Israeli soldiers in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

3 Israeli soldiers killed amid Gaza battles: Israeli media

  • Palestine
  • 14 Jul 2025
Donald Trump, the Corporate Aristocracy and the Israelization of the World

Donald Trump, the Corporate Aristocracy and the Israelization of the World

  • Opinion
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The US Capitol, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Congress set to weaken oversight on foreign US arms sales

Only quarter of Americans say Trump policies helped them: Poll
US & Canada

Only quarter of Americans say Trump policies helped them: Poll

UK charities fund Israeli settlement expansion in occupied West Bank
Palestine

UK charities fund Israeli settlement expansion in occupied West Bank

Calls grow to remove Netanyahu from High School hall of fame
Politics

Calls grow to remove Netanyahu from high school Hall of Fame

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS