RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Monday called for an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression on Palestinian territories and Lebanon. The Crown Prince made the remarks at the Extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh.
“Ongoing Israeli crimes against innocent civilians and the continued violation of our holy site, Al-Aqsa Mosque, undermine all efforts aimed at restoring the lawful rights of the Palestinian people,” said the Crown Prince as quoted by Al Jazeera.
He condemned Israel’s refusal to allow the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, to deliver humanitarian aid in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Crown Prince said this summit is an extension of the previous joint meeting; it convenes against the backdrop of the ongoing reprehensible Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people and the expansion of these attacks into the Lebanese Republic, the SPA reported.
He said the Kingdom reaffirms its condemnation and utter rejection of the genocide perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people, which has resulted in over 150,000 martyrs, wounded, and missing, most of them women and children.
“We strongly condemn the Israeli military operations targeting Lebanese territories and reject any threats to Lebanon’s security and stability, violations of its territorial integrity, and the displacement of its citizens,” the Crown Prince said.
He added the Kingdom stands in solidarity with the brotherly peoples of Palestine and Lebanon to overcome the devastating humanitarian consequences of the ongoing Israeli aggression.
“We urge the international community to uphold international peace and security by immediately halting the Israeli attacks on the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples, and ensuring that Israel respects the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran and ceases all hostile actions on Iranian territories,” said the Saudi Crown Prince.
“We emphasise the continued joint efforts to establish a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the preservation of Lebanon’s sovereignty over all its territory, he said.
“We have urged greater international recognition of the State of Palestine, mobilized support for Palestinian rights, as expressed in UN General Assembly resolutions regarding full Palestine UN membership, and advocated for an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories,” said the Crown Prince.
The agenda of the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit includes stopping Israeli aggression, providing support to the Palestinian and Lebanese people, protecting civilians, unifying positions, and putting pressure on the global community to take decisive measures to end the ongoing attacks and establish peace and stability in the region, the SPA reported.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while addressing the gathering has warned that Israel aims to destroy the existence of Palestinians and ultimately annex all Palestinian territories with its brutal attacks, Daily Sabah reported.
“Israel’s relentless offensive on the Gaza Strip and increasing crackdown on Palestinians in occupied West Bank are proof this is where the situation is headed,” he said.
Erdoğan, said the Israeli parliament banning the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, is meant to eliminate a two-state solution and stop the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland.
“We see the futility of a two-state solution by seeking the Israeli government’s consent,” he said. He slammed a handful of Western nations for providing every form of support to Israel.
“We must maintain our coordinated efforts to pressuring measures against those committing genocide in Palestine,” Erdoğan said. “Muslim states must spearhead steps that can be taken to stop Israel,” he added.
“It’s vital that Israel is isolated in the international arena until its aggression ends,” Erdoğan said.
Caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati in his address called upon the countries to continue sending aid amid an unprecedented crisis. He said the Israeli aggression has led to severe human losses, in addition to economic repercussions, further exacerbating the tragedy, and the World Bank has estimated the losses at $8.5bn.
HRH the Crown Prince, leaders and heads of delegations participating in the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit pose for a group photo before the start of the event.#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/ESKxTUfr9C
— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) November 11, 2024
He stressed global support for Lebanon and not any factions. “I also call for respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty and refraining from interfering in its internal affairs while supporting Lebanon as a state and entity,” Mikati said as quoted by Al Jazeera.
He said a fund was being created to assist Lebanon’s displaced, which will be overseen by the UN.
Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, Indonesia, Nigeria, Palestine, and many other countries, along with the secretaries-general of the Arab League and OIC, are attending the conference.
In response to the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip, the Ministerial Committee formed during the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit held a series of diplomatic engagements with international leaders and officials, to garner global support for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the restoration of essential services to the besieged Gaza Strip.
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During their meetings, committee members emphasised the urgent need to stop the Israeli military aggression, which has displaced countless Palestinians and the destruction of critical infrastructure.
The committee members also strongly condemned Israel’s continued violation of international law and humanitarian norms, including the denial of basic rights like access to water, electricity, and freedom of movement.
They reaffirmed their unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
