At a summit in Riyadh, the heads of state of Arab and other Islamic countries called for an end to violence in the Middle East. Palestinian President Abbas called for international protection for his people and pressure on Israel.
The heads of state of Arab and other Islamic states are discussing the war in the Middle East at an extraordinary summit meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh today. According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, the goal is a “unified position” among countries on the “dangerous and unprecedented events in Gaza and the Palestinian territories.”
At the meeting, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for international protection for his people in light of Israeli attacks. She is facing an “unprecedented genocidal war,” said Abbas. He called on the US to put pressure on Israel to stop its offensive in the Gaza Strip. Any political solution must encompass the entire Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza.
With regard to the Israeli offensive, Egypt’s head of state Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said that the “policy of collective punishment” of the people in the Gaza Strip was unacceptable and could not be justified by self-defense or other claims. It must be stopped immediately. Al-Sisi called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire “without restrictions or conditions.”
Erdogan calls for international Peace Conference
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an international peace conference to find a lasting solution to the conflict. “What we need in the Gaza Strip are not breaks for a few hours, but we need a permanent ceasefire,” says Erdogan, referring to the temporary ceasefires by the Israeli armed forces.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also called for an immediate ceasefire. Israel must stop its military operations and humanitarian corridors to Gaza must be secured. The only solution to achieve stability in the region is to end the occupation, settlement and siege, bin Salman said. At the same time he demanded the release of all hostages and innocent people.
Iran’s president wants sanctions against Israel
Iran’s President Ibrahim Raisi also came to Riyadh for the first time since the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. He called on Muslim countries to impose oil and goods sanctions against Israel. “There is no other way but to oppose Israel.” Raisi praised Hamas, which his country supports financially and militarily: “We kiss Hamas’s hands for its resistance against Israel.”
Syria’s ruler Bashar al-Assad is also at the summit. It is one of his first appearances at an international meeting since the civil war broke out in his country.