A high-stakes summit is set to unfold in Saudi Arabia, bringing together Arab and Muslim leaders to address the escalating conflicts between Israel and the Palestinian territories, including Gaza, and Lebanon. The summit, announced by Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry in late October, is a follow-up to the inaugural meeting of an “international alliance” advocating for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that attendees will engage in discussions on Israel’s ongoing actions in Palestinian territories and Lebanon, as well as broader regional developments. This gathering follows a similar summit held in Riyadh a year ago, where leaders from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza as “barbaric.”
The Saudi state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya news channel showcased footage on Sunday of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati arriving in Riyadh. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also confirmed to attend, as per the Pakistani foreign ministry’s announcement last week. Sharif has declared his intention to advocate for “an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza” and the “immediate cessation of the ongoing Israeli adventurism in the region.”
The 57-member OIC and 22-member Arab League encompass countries both recognizing Israel and those firmly opposed to its regional integration. The Riyadh summit last year witnessed differing viewpoints on measures such as severing economic and diplomatic ties with Israel and disrupting its oil supplies.
The war in Gaza erupted on October 7th last year, with Hamas launching an unprecedented attack on southern Israel. This attack resulted in 1,206 deaths, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has tragically claimed the lives of over 43,600 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, deemed reliable by the United Nations.
Lebanon-based Hezbollah, sharing Iran’s backing with Hamas, commenced firing on Israel following the October 7th attack. The regular cross-border exchanges intensified in late September as Israel ramped up its air strikes before deploying ground troops into southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
The summit in Saudi Arabia is poised to be a pivotal gathering, with high expectations for a unified stance from Arab and Muslim leaders on the escalating conflicts and potential pathways toward peace and stability in the region. The world watches with anticipation to see what outcomes emerge from these crucial discussions.
