Arab and Muslim leaders demand immediate end to Gaza war

Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries have called for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza, rejecting Israel’s self-defense justification for its actions against Palestinians. The joint Islamic-Arab summit in Riyadh has urged the International Criminal Court to investigate the “war crimes and crimes against humanity” committed by Israel in the Palestinian territories. Saudi Arabia, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been pressing the United States and Israel to cease hostilities in Gaza, and the summit was convened to reinforce this message. Leaders from various countries, including Iran, Turkey, Qatar, and Syria, attended the summit. Prince Mohammed condemned the “barbaric war” against Palestinians and criticized the Security Council and the international community for failing to stop Israeli violations of international laws. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the situation as a “genocidal war” and called on the United States to end Israeli aggression. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi praised Hamas for its resistance against Israel and called on Islamic countries to impose sanctions on Israel. The article also mentions the escalating violence in Gaza, with Palestinian officials reporting intensified fighting and casualties. The war in Gaza has caused shifts in Middle East alliances, with Saudi Arabia engaging more closely with Iran and putting its plans to normalize ties with Israel on hold. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called for an international peace conference to find a permanent solution to the conflict. Qatar’s emir expressed hope for a humanitarian truce and mediation for the release of Israeli hostages. The summit demanded an end to the siege of Gaza, access for humanitarian aid, and a halt to arms sales to Israel. The article concludes by mentioning the differing opinions among Arab countries regarding diplomatic ties with Israel, with some calling for a complete cut and others emphasizing the need to keep channels open. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Arab leadership to stand against Hamas, describing it as part of the terror axis led by Iran. The article credits Aziz El Yaakoubi, Nayera Abdallah, Parisa Hafezi, and others for their reporting and mentions the Thomson RushHourDaily Trust Principles.