Saudi Arabia’s MBS demands immediate end to Israel’s war in Gaza, Lebanon
Saudi crown prince condemns ‘massacre’ committed against Palestinian and Lebanese people at the Arab-Islamic summit.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has called on Israel to immediately halt its military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, speaking at the opening of a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders in Riyadh.
Addressing the joint Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Monday, the crown prince, known as MBS, denounced what he described as a “massacre committed against the Palestinian and Lebanese people.”
He urged Israel “to refrain from further acts of aggression” and called on nations worldwide to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League, echoed MBS’s condemnation of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, stating that “words cannot express the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
“The actions taken by Israel against the Palestinian people are eroding efforts to achieve a lasting peace. Only through justice can we build a sustainable peace,” Aboul Gheit added.
He emphasized that "the world cannot turn a blind eye to Israeli violence."
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati told the summit that his country is facing an “unprecedented” crisis threatening its very existence amid Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah.
“Lebanon is experiencing a historic, existential crisis that endangers both its present and its future,” he said.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian did not attend the summit due to pressing “executive matters.”
However, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, in remarks to the summit, condemned Israel’s assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders as “organized terrorism.”
“These operations, misleadingly labeled as ‘targeted killings’ and involving the systematic elimination of Palestinian leaders and other regional figures, are acts of lawlessness and organized terrorism,” he said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also attended the summit.
The summit follows a similar gathering in Riyadh a year ago, where leaders from the Cairo-based Arab League and the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Israel's actions in Gaza as “barbaric.”
However, despite calls to cut economic and diplomatic ties with Israel or disrupt its oil supplies, leaders were unable to agree on specific actions against the country.
The 57-member OIC and 22-member Arab League include both nations that recognize Israel and others firmly opposed to its integration in the region.
Donald Trump’s recent election to the U.S. presidency—and his upcoming second term in the White House—are likely top of mind for leaders in Riyadh, said Anna Jacobs, senior Gulf analyst at the International Crisis Group.
“This summit provides regional leaders an opportunity to signal their priorities for U.S. engagement under the incoming Trump administration,” she told AFP news agency.
“The message will likely focus on dialogue, de-escalation, and a firm stance against Israeli military actions in the region.”
Israel’s war on Gaza erupted after an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, which claimed over 1,100 lives. Since then, Israel has killed more than 43,600 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians.
Since October 7 last year, Israel has also killed over 3,100 people in Lebanon in its ongoing conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
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