RIYADH: The joint extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh concluded with a unified stance against Israeli aggression, demanding an end to the illegal siege on the Gaza Strip and the prosecution of Israel for war crimes against Palestinians.
The summit, attended by Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States, underscored the centrality of the Palestinian cause.
In a resolution adopted at the summit, the two organizations expressed unwavering support for the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people to liberate their occupied territories. The resolution affirmed that Israel and all the states in the region will never enjoy peace and security unless the Palestinian people enjoy peace and security and reclaim all their usurped rights.
Arab-Islamic Summit Calls for End to Israeli Aggression in Gaza
The resolution emphasized the need to end Israeli aggression against Palestinians and called for an international peace conference based on international legitimacy resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative, and adherence to their provisions. “The resolution called for convening an international peace conference as soon as possible, noting that a just, durable, and comprehensive peace is the only way to achieve that on the basis of international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative as basic terms of reference and renewed adherence to all its provisions and priorities,” the resolution stated.
The resolution outlined political, legal, and humanitarian steps, including breaking the siege on Gaza and ensuring the delivery of aid through Arab, Islamic, and international humanitarian convoys. It urged international organizations to participate in these efforts and called on the UN Security Council to condemn destruction, displacement, and the prevention of basic services. The resolution described the ongoing Israeli aggression as a retaliatory war crime that cannot be justified under any guise.
Furthermore, the resolution activated the Arab and Islamic Financial Safety Net to provide assistance and financial support to the Government of the State of Palestine and UNRWA. It stressed the importance of mobilizing international partners for the reconstruction of Gaza once Israeli aggression ceases.
Arab-Islamic Summit Mandates Establishment of Two Specialized Legal Monitoring Units
The summit mandated the establishment of two specialized legal monitoring units by the General Secretariats of the OIC and the League of Arab States to document crimes by Israeli authorities in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The summit expressed support for legal and political initiatives at the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and the Human Rights Council. The resolution requested the ICC prosecutor to continue investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.
The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, as the Chair of the Arab Summit (32), representatives from Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Nigeria, Palestine, and other interested county, and the secretary generals of the two organizations were tasked with initiating immediate international action on behalf of all member states to stop the war on Gaza.
The resolution also demanded a halt to the export of weapons and ammunition to the Israeli occupation authorities that are used by their army and terrorist settlers to kill the Palestinian people and destroy their homes, hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, and all their properties. The resolution condemned military aggression and war crimes against the Gaza Strip.
The resolution also condemned barbaric, brutal, and inhuman massacres committed by the colonial occupation government and the military actions against Palestinian cities and camps, the settlers’ terrorism, Israeli assaults on Islamic and Christian holy places in Al-Quds, and the illegal Israeli measures that violate freedom of worship.
