Saudi Arabia urgently called for immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon during a joint summit of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which focused on renewing calls for a Palestinian state.
The summit, held in Riyadh, drew Arab and Muslim leaders amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, now over a year old. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the need to immediately stop Israeli operations, condemning the actions in Gaza as genocide. He affirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to helping Palestine and Lebanon cope with the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict.
The summit, looking to influence the incoming Trump administration, advocated for dialogue and de-escalation and firmly addressed Israeli military actions in the region. Newly appointed Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed scepticism about the feasibility of establishing a Palestinian state, considering it unrealistic at this time.
The summit also revisited last year’s condemnation of Israeli forces’ actions in Gaza, calling them barbaric, and discussed the extensive civilian casualties resulting from the ongoing military responses by Israel in Gaza and the heightened conflict with Lebanon-based Hezbollah.
Despite international controversy over U.S. policies favoring Israel, the outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden maintained significant military support for Israel. Trump, during his first term, had strongly supported Israel by recognizing Jerusalem as its capital and endorsing Israeli settlements despite their violation of international law.
Saudi Arabia, while not part of the Abraham Accords, has indicated that recognition of Israel would only proceed in the context of established peace and the creation of a Palestinian state, reflecting a cautious approach toward normalizing relations without resolving core regional disputes.
