The Arab-Islamic Summit held today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, called on the United Nations Security Council to take decisive, binding action to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The summit expressed outrage at the relentless Israeli attacks on Gaza and condemned the heinous war crimes and brutal massacres committed by the occupation forces, rejecting the claim that the Israeli aggression falls under the framework of self-defense. The concluding statement, delivered by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in a joint press conference with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hussein Ibrahim Taha, underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire and the protection of medical facilities. The summit demanded that the UN Security Council issue an immediate and unequivocal resolution condemning Israel’s ruthless destruction of hospitals in Gaza. It further called for the entry of humanitarian aid convoys, including food, medicine, and fuel, into the besieged region. the summit called for an immediate halt to the export of weapons and ammunition to Israel, highlighting the devastating impact these weapons have on the Palestinian population. The statement denounced Israel’s deliberate targeting of essential services, including electricity, water, communication, and internet facilities, deeming it a collective punishment and a war crime under international law. The summit also called upon the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to expedite investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel against the Palestinian people throughout the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem. Emphasizing its unequivocal rejection of any attempts at forced individual or collective transfer, displacement, or expulsion of the Palestinian people, the summit declared such actions as red lines and war crimes. It reaffirmed the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and urged Palestinian factions to unite under its umbrella. Furthermore, the summit stressed the immediate need for the international community to initiate a genuine and credible peace process based on the principles of international law, UN resolutions, and the land-for-peace principle. The leaders called for a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, ensuring the unity of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, within the framework of a free, independent, and sovereign Palestinian state. In closing, the summit appealed for an international peace conference that would launch a credible peace process, adhering to a specific timeline and international guarantees.
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency