Riyadh Summit Unites Arab and Islamic Leaders Against Israel’s Gaza Operations

Leaders from across the Arab and Islamic worlds gathered in Riyadh on Saturday to denounce Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, categorically rejecting claims of self-defense. The one-day Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League, attended by prominent figures such as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, issued a communique calling for an immediate cessation of military activities in Gaza and the entry of humanitarian aid.

The summit’s leaders, representing a diverse group of nations and international organizations, also urged a halt to arms exports to Israel and requested the International Criminal Court to probe alleged violations in Gaza. The focus was on supporting Egypt’s humanitarian efforts and condemning the displacement of Palestinians within Gaza.

Key speakers at the summit, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila, the recent Israeli attacks have resulted in over 11,000 Palestinian deaths, including a significant number of women and children. This escalation followed a massive assault by Hamas against Israeli civilians, which claimed around 1,200 lives in communities near Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip and involved taking hostages into Gaza.

Qatar’s Emir highlighted his nation’s role in mediating the release of hostages, underscoring the summit’s claimed commitment to addressing the complex humanitarian and political facets of the ongoing crisis in Gaza.