An extraordinary summit of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was held in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, devoted to the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has declared that a “genocidal war” is being waged against the Palestinians. In a joint communiqué, the summit participants condemned “Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, war crimes and barbaric and inhumane massacres.”
The summit took place on Saturday in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The leaders of Muslim countries took part in it, including: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, president Iran Ebrahim Ra’isi, president Turkey Tayyip Erdogan, emir Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani or the president Syria Bashar al-Assad.
– In the West Bank and Jerusalem, Palestinians also face daily acts of violence. We want international protection, said the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, during his speech. He called too United Statesto “stop Israeli aggression.”
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, assessed that the international community bears “legal and ethical responsibility” for the current crisis in the Middle East and asked: – How long will the international community treat Israel as if it were above international law?
The emir said that Qatar is still mediating between the parties to the conflict regarding the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The Hamas political office is based in Qatar, and the country has provided millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The emirate is also a close ally of the United States, and the largest American military base in the region is located on its territory.
In turn, Erdogan called for an international peace conference to find a lasting solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
“What we need in Gaza is not a break of a few hours, but a permanent ceasefire,” said the Turkish president.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in Riyadh that all talks and political cooperation with Israel should be suspended due to continuing violence in Gaza.
President of Iran: We kiss the hands of Hamas
Iranian President Ebrahim Ra’isi praised the Palestinian group Hamas for the war against Israel during the summit and urged Islamic countries to impose sanctions on Israel.
“There is no other way but to resist Israel. We kiss the hands of Hamas for its resistance against Israel,” Rai’si said in his speech.
Group photo from the extraordinary summit of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic CooperationPAP/EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT
Condemnation of “Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip”
The summit participants issued a joint communiqué. They called for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and to reject justifying Israel’s actions against the Palestinians as acts of self-defense.
The summit condemned “Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, war crimes and barbaric and inhumane massacres committed by the occupation government,” reads the final communiqué.
Arab world leaders also called for an end to the siege of the Gaza Strip, allowing humanitarian aid to be transferred to the enclave and halting arms exports to Israel.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT