Arab and Muslim leaders, gathered in Saudi Arabia, are set to hold a summit.
The Arab-Islamic Summit, which commences on Monday, November 11, 2024, is aimed at addressing the intensifying crisis in Palestine and Lebanon.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced Monday’s summit in late October during the first meeting of an “international alliance” pushing for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a report, the Saudi Press Agency said that Israel’s “aggression” in Gaza and Lebanon “has compelled Arab and Islamic leaders to take urgent action.”
It added that key priorities for the summit 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.
The Summit was preceded by the preparatory session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held on Sunday, November 10, 2024, and also participated by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
The Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya news channel broadcast footage of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati landing in Riyadh for the summit on Sunday evening.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are among those scheduled to attend.
Sharif is set to address the second Joint Arab-Islamic Summit
The Prime Minister will call for an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza; an urgent and unconditional ceasefire; immediate cessation of the ongoing Israeli adventurism in the region that is endangering the security of the countries in the Middle East.
He will also advocate for providing international protection for the Palestinian people; and for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine on the borders of 4 June 1967, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister Khalid A. Al-Falih and Secretary General of the Muslim World League Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-ssa.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian would not be taking part due to pressing “executive matters”, officials said. But in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pezeshkian said Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref will attend the summit.
In a message delivered to the summit participants, Hamas urged the formation of the alliance to focus on lifting the siege on Gaza and ensuring that Palestinians can exercise their right to self-determination.
Hamas expressed a willingness to engage with any proposals that would lead to an end to Israeli aggression, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes.
It also emphasized that any ceasefire should involve the provision of humanitarian aid, the rebuilding of Gaza, and a comprehensive prisoner swap deal.
Trump’s Election Win To Be On Leaders’ Minds
According to Anna Jacobs, Senior Gulf Analyst for the International Crisis Group think tank, Donald Trump’s election last week for a second term in the White House is likely to be on leaders’ minds in Riyadh.
“This summit is very much an opportunity for regional leaders to signal to the incoming Trump administration what they want in terms of US engagement.
“The message will likely be one of dialogue, de-escalation and calling out Israeli military campaigns in the region.”
Anna Jacobs
Umer Karim, an expert on Saudi politics at the University of Birmingham, also said that Riyadh will use Monday’s summit to signal to the incoming Trump team that it remains a strong partner.
The message, he stated, is that Trump “can rely on the Saudis as being representatives of the Muslim world”, and that “if you want to extend American interests in the region, Saudi Arabia is your bet.”
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