Riyadh Summit Condemns Israeli Atrocities in Gaza, Lebanon
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Participants in an extraordinary Arab and Islamic summit in Riyadh denounced the Israeli massacre of people in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Muslim and Arab leaders at the summit demanded that Israel immediately stop its deadly hostilities in the besieged Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
In an address to the joint meeting of the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Monday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned the “massacre committed against Palestinian and Lebanese people.”
Bin Salman urged Israel “to refrain from any further act of aggression.”
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the secretary-general of the Arab League, also joined the Saudi crown prince in condemning Israel’s campaign of death and destruction in Gaza and Lebanon. “Words cannot express the plight of the Palestinian people.”
“The actions taken by Israel against the Palestinian people are undermining efforts to achieve lasting peace. It is only with justice that we will be able to establish lasting peace.”
Addressing the summit, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the Arab and Islamic countries to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
He also demanded the implementation of a UN resolution to halt Israeli aggression in Gaza and to secure the delivery of humanitarian aid into the territory, Press TV reported.
King Abdullah II of Jordan condemned Israel’s war on Gaza and the spread of fighting to Lebanon, and called for more aid into the besieged Palestinian territory.
In his speech, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned that Lebanon “is going through an unprecedented historical crisis.”
Citing World Bank estimates, Mikati said the damage from Israeli aggression on his country amounted to about $8.5 billion, including both economic losses and destruction of homes.
More than 50 leaders of Arab and Islamic countries are in Riyadh to take part in the summit.
Ahead of the meeting, Hamas called for the formation of an alliance of Arab and Islamic nations to pressure Israel and its supporters to end the atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon.
President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran did not attend the meeting due to pressing “executive matters.” But in a phone call with the Saudi crown prince, Pezeshkian said Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref will attend the summit.
The summit comes one year after a similar gathering of the OIC and Arab League, during which leaders condemned Israeli actions in Gaza as “barbaric.”
On Sunday afternoon, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chaired the preparatory ministerial meeting ahead of Monday’s session.
The Saudi Press Agency said, “The escalating violence in the Palestinian and Lebanese territories, including the brutal Israeli aggression, has compelled Arab and Islamic leaders to take urgent action.”
“Key priorities include halting the aggression, protecting civilians, providing support to the Palestinian and Lebanese people, unifying positions, and exerting pressure on the international community to take decisive steps to end the ongoing attacks and establish lasting peace and stability in the region.”