Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is set to host a significant summit involving leaders from Iran, Turkey, Syria, and other countries to discuss the worsening situation in Gaza. The announcement was made by Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry, stating that the kingdom was originally planning to hold separate summits for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League. However, after consulting with members of both organizations, Saudi Arabia decided to combine the two meetings into a joint summit.
The summit is a response to the exceptional circumstances unfolding in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, with the aim of unifying efforts and establishing a collective position among participating countries. The OIC, which includes member states from across the Islamic world, will be represented by countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq. Notably, this summit will mark the first visit by an Iranian president to Saudi Arabia in 11 years, as President Ebrahim Raisi is expected to attend. Raisi emphasized the urgency for action over mere words, stating that the Palestinian issue has become a global concern.
Iran has repeatedly warned that the war’s scope will expand if Israel does not cease its attacks, with Raisi referring to Israel’s actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Despite mounting calls for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued its relentless air strikes and ground assaults on the Gaza Strip. Tragically, the ongoing attacks have claimed the lives of at least 11,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians. Hospitals have become targets, and the United Nations has expressed grave concern for the one million children in Gaza who are at risk.
The Arab League, consisting of 22 member countries, including Syria, has also expressed its condemnation of the Israeli occupation and its commitment to stopping the aggression. The league’s assistant secretary-general, Hossam Zaki, stressed the organization’s determination to hold Israel accountable for its actions and support Palestine and its people.
This extraordinary joint summit in Riyadh comes amidst a flurry of diplomatic activities in the region. Prior to this summit, Saudi Arabia hosted an African-Saudi summit, where Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman called for an end to the war. Furthermore, leaders from Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan convened in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, to discuss various regional issues, including the situation in Gaza.
As tensions continue to escalate in the Israel-Gaza conflict, the international community is closely watching the outcomes of this high-level gathering in Riyadh. The joint summit serves as a platform for countries to unite their efforts, condemn the Israeli occupation, and strategize on how to halt the aggression. The eyes of the world are now on the leaders in attendance, hoping for concrete actions that will alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and pave the way for a lasting peace in the region.
