The extraordinary Arab-Islamic Follow-Up Summit, held upon Saudi Arabia’s call to discuss Israel’s ongoing aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, concluded on Monday in Riyadh.
During the Summit, Arab and Islamic leaders emphasized the centrality of the Palestinian cause, stressing their firm support to the Palestinian people. They also strongly condemned the Israeli offensive against Lebanon, calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Supporting Palestinian Rights
Leaders attending the Arab-Islamic Follow-Up Summit issued a closing statement, in which they reiterated their support for the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian State along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The statement also emphasized the support for the full sovereignty of the State of Palestine over occupied East Jerusalem, considering it a red line for the Arab and Islamic nations, reaffirming absolute solidarity in protecting the Arab and Islamic identity of the city and in defending the sanctity of the holy Islamic and Christian sites there.
Moreover, the statement called the UN Security Council to issue a resolution granting the State of Palestine full membership in the UN, and to urge Member States to mobilize the necessary support to adopt the resolution.
Rejecting Israeli Crimes
The Arab and Islamic leaders warned of the danger of escalation in the region and the international consequences of the expansion of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip to include Lebanon, and the violation of the sovereignty of Iraq, Syria and Iran.
In their statement, they strongly condemned Israel’s horrific and shocking crimes in Gaza in the context of the crime of genocide, including mass graves, the crime of torture, field executions, enforced disappearance, looting, and ethnic cleansing. They demanded the Security Council to investigate these crimes and to take serious steps to prevent evidence obliteration and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Furthermore, the statement condemned the Israeli policy of collective punishment and the use of siege and starvation as a weapon against civilians in Gaza, calling the international community to take immediate measures to end the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the aggression. These include forcing Israel to completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip, open all crossings, and lift all restrictions to safe, rapid and unconditional humanitarian access to the Strip.
A Call for Arms Embargo
The closing statement of the Arab-Islamic Follow-Up Summit called all countries to ban the export or transfer of weapons and ammunition to Israel, calling the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution that obligates Israel to end its illegal policies that threaten security and peace in the region.
In addition, the statement urged the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Israeli civilian and military officials for committing crimes against the Palestinian people.
Moreover, leaders declared that they will start to mobilize international support to suspend Israel’s participation in the UN and its affiliated bodies.
Aggression on Lebanon
The Arab and Islamic leaders strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon and the violations of its sovereignty, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Furthermore, they condemned Israel’s deliberate attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, demanding the Security Council to hold Israel accountable. They also called for continued provision of assistance and urgent humanitarian and relief support to the Lebanese government to confront the repercussions of the Israeli aggression.
Tripartite Mechanism
On the sideline of the Arab-Islamic Follow-Up Summit in Riyadh, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, and the African Union Commission (AUC) signed a tripartite mechanism to coordinate their efforts to support the Palestinian cause.
The tripartite mechanism aims to intensify efforts and strengthen collaborative work towards supporting the Palestinian cause, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In the light of this, the Arab and Islamic leaders welcomed the signing of this mechanism and commended the African Union’s firm positions towards the Palestinian cause.
Saudi Arabia’s Diplomatic Push
The Arab-Islamic Summit aligns with Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and to bring peace and stability to the region. It also underscores the Kingdom’s strong commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights and end their humanitarian suffering.
Inaugurating the Summit, the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, reiterated Saudi Arabia’s categorial rejection of Israel’s crimes in Gaza. He stressed the centrality of the Palestinian cause, underscoring the urgent need for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Furthermore, the Saudi Crown Prince condemned Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support for the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples.
In September, Saudi Arabia launched the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The alliance held its first high-level meeting in Riyadh, on October 30, 2024 as a step to prevent prolonging the cycle of violence and destruction in Palestine and Lebanon.
De-escalation Efforts
During a press conference at the conclusion of the Summit, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, pointed out that the Arab-Islamic Follow-Up Summit underscores the Arab and Islamic nations’ commitment to de-escalating regional tensions, ending Israeli violations, lifting restrictions to humanitarian aid. It also emphasizes their support to the two-state solution as the only path towards lasting and just peace in the region.
Moreover, Prince Faisal added that the Summit discussed ways to bolster Arab and Islamic cooperation, and coordinate with the international community to reach a ceasefire and prevent the widening of the conflict, noting that the international community is responsible for pressuring Israel to stop its practices.
