Saudi Arabia to host Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza conflict

Saudi Arabia will host an extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit today to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip, reported Anadolu Agency.

“Due to the exceptional circumstances in Gaza, the Kingdom has decided to convene an extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh on Saturday,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“This replaces the previously planned emergency Arab Summit and extraordinary Islamic Summit scheduled for the same date.”

The oil-rich kingdom was scheduled to host two summits of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The ministry said the decision to hold the Arab-Islamic summit emphasises the importance of unifying efforts and presenting a unified stance expressing the joint Arab-Islamic will regarding the serious and unprecedented developments in Gaza and the Palestinian territories.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip - including on hospitals, residences, and houses of worship - since Oct 7.

At least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women.

Meanwhile, Malaysia does not want the OIC meeting on Palestine to just conclude with a statement of condemnation without presenting any concrete steps to move forward.

Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said there is a need for affirmation from OIC member countries so that the ceasefire is expedited and the killings currently happening in Palestine stop.

“We don’t want OIC to have meetings after meetings which do not have any impact, or produce anything.

“There should be an affirmation, there must be steps forward from the member countries to speed up the ceasefire process, to immediately stop the brutal attacks and killings by this inhumane (Israeli) regime,” he told Malaysian reporters in Riyadh today.

Immediate steps needed

Earlier he attended a meeting of OIC foreign ministers in conjunction with the eighth OIC Emergency Summit which will take place today in the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Hosted by Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Salman, the summit will also be attended by leaders and representatives of OIC member states.

The emergency summit was the result of the cooperation between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and several OIC leaders.

Anwar is expected to arrive in Riyadh today to attend the emergency summit where he will voice the firm stance of Malaysia on the Palestinian issue that has plagued the country for a long time.

“What is needed is immediate steps to end this war. We cannot allow the brutal killings of children, women, and civilians in the name of their right to self-defence,” said Zambry.

According to the foreign minister, the OIC emergency summit today will be preceded by the Arab Nations Summit which will take place simultaneously.

He said a joint statement will be issued at the end of the two summits which is expected to have a big impact.

He said this is because Malaysia wants concrete action to solve the problems of the Palestinian people, not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank which is being attacked by the Israeli regime.

The Israeli regime's relentless attacks on Palestinians in Gaza over the past month have killed approximately 11,000 people, with the majority of those killed being civilians, especially women and children.

- Bernama-Anadolu

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