Arab Leaders Unite in Riyadh Summit, Denounce Israel's Actions in Gaza and Lebanon, Urge Immediate Ceasefire
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke out strongly against Israel’s attacks on Gaza, calling them a “genocide.” This is the first time Saudi Arabia’s prime minister and de facto ruler has made such a statement.
The crown prince made his remarks at a summit held in Riyadh with the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, where leaders from the Arab world came together to express their concerns. Prince Mohammed, along with other leaders, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
“This summit is a continuation of our previous one, held in response to the ongoing, terrible attacks by Israel against our Palestinian brothers and now also in Lebanon,” he said in his main speech. He expressed Saudi Arabia’s strong opposition to what he described as Israel’s “genocide” against Palestinians, noting that many of the more than 150,000 people killed or wounded are women and children.
Since the start of Israel’s attacks on Gaza last October, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly urged for a ceasefire and supports a two-state solution. While there had been speculation that Saudi Arabia might make formal ties with Israel, Prince Mohammed has said that this would not happen until there is a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Also Read: Israeli Military Allegedly Permits Looting of Gaza Aid Trucks as Famine Threatens Northern Region
During a major summit in Riyadh, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned Israel’s “desecration of the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque” and criticized actions undermining the Palestinian Authority. He said these policies make peace in the region harder to achieve. The prince also spoke out against Israel’s restrictions on UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, as well as its attacks on aid agencies in Gaza. He warned of “catastrophic consequences” from Israel’s actions in both Lebanon and Gaza and urged the international community to stop the violence.
The crown prince called on world leaders to hold Israel accountable and respect Iran's sovereignty, warning against further Israeli attacks in the region. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas supported calls for sanctions on Israel and urged a halt to settlement expansions within a year. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also voiced strong opposition to the forced displacement of Gazans or any attempts to render Gaza uninhabitable, saying Egypt would not support any plans that seek to end the Palestinian cause.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called for an “executive plan” to end Israel’s war, emphasizing that inaction would “aid in the continuation of genocide.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against Israeli plans that he said could lead to the “annihilation of Palestinians.” He criticized Western nations for supporting Israel and acknowledged Muslim nations' need for a stronger, united response. Erdogan urged continued cooperation among Muslim countries, setting aside their differences to press for action against what he described as genocide in Palestine.