Gaza in spotlight as Arab, Muslim blocs meet in Saudi Arabia

At a summit conference on Saturday in the Saudi capital, Iranian President Hassan and other Arab leaders are expected to reaffirm their demands that the violence in Gaza cease before the Israel-Hamas war enlists the support of other nations.

The Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are holding an emergency conference in response to the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas fighters on October 7, which according to Israeli officials resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths—mostly civilians—and 239 hostages.

More than 11,000 Palestinians, largely civilians and many of them children, have died as a result of Israel’s ensuing aerial and ground attack, according to the health ministry operated by Hamas.

Aid organizations have added their voices to calls for a ceasefire, citing a humanitarian “catastrophe” in Gaza due to a shortage of food, water, and medication.

The Arab League and the OIC were originally meant to meet separately.

Arab diplomats told AFP that the Arab League delegates were unable to agree on a final statement, which led to the decision to combine the sessions.

According to the diplomats, some nations, such as Algeria and Lebanon, suggested cutting off diplomatic and economic relations that certain Arab League members have with Israel in response to the destruction in Gaza by threatening to cut off oil supply to Israel and its allies.

The plan was, however, rejected by at least three nations, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which restored diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, according to the diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian organization, criticized Arab leaders for the postponement and stated that it did not “expect anything” to come out of the summit.

During a news conference in Beirut, the deputy secretary-general of the group, Mohammad al-Hindi, stated, “We are not placing our hopes on such meetings, for we have seen their results over many years.”

“The fact that this conference will be held after 35 days (of war) is an indication of its outcomes.”

The de facto ruler of the Gulf state, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stated as the summit got underway on Saturday that host Saudi Arabia “confirms that it holds the occupation (Israeli) authorities responsible for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people.”

Regarding Israel’s activities in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, he stated, “We are certain that the only way to guarantee security, peace, and stability in the region is to end the occupation, siege, and the settlements.”

Demands for a ceasefire have so far been rejected by Israel and the United States, which is its primary ally. This stance was predicted to face harsh criticism on Saturday.

“This is not just about Israel-Palestine — this is about what is facilitating Israel to do this, which is basically the United States and the West,” Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi expert, said.

🚨 🇸🇦 Mohammad Bin Salman :

We affirm our condemnation and categorical rejection of the barbaric war to which our brothers in Palestine are subjected. #Riyadh #CeasefireInGazaNOW #GazaHolocaust #ولي_العهد pic.twitter.com/beREPpbdv8

— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) November 11, 2023

In Riyadh, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (2ndR) of Qatar. IMAGE: AFP

For the conference, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi traveled to Riyadh on Saturday. This was Raisi’s first trip to Saudi Arabia since the two nations decided to mend their relations in March.

Since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited an OIC meeting in the kingdom in 2012, Raisi is the first Iranian president to visit the country.

Iran is the main cause for anxiety that the war may spread because it supports Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Huthi rebels in Yemen.

Hezbollah and the Israeli army have already begun cross-border communications as a result of the battle, and the Huthis have taken credit for “ballistic missiles” that the rebels said were headed for southern Israel.

🇮🇷🇸🇦Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed the Iranian president Raisi for the emergency OIC summit & marking the first visit of the Iranian president to KSA after the resumption of relations.

2nd video shows a commemorative photo of heads of Islamic countries at the… pic.twitter.com/Ts9TNxUkpF

— Arya – آریا 🇮🇷 (@AryJeay) November 11, 2023

Because of its tight links to Washington and its consideration of normalizing ties with Israel prior to the outbreak of the war, analysts say Saudi Arabia feels exposed to possible strikes.

In his first remarks about the war in public, Prince Mohammed denounced “continuous violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli occupation forces” on Friday, though Riyadh has made similar criticisms in a number of announcements.

During a panel discussion hosted by the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Kim Ghattas, the author of a book on the competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran, stated that “the Saudis are hoping that the fact they didn’t normalize yet, and the fact that they have a channel to the Iranians, gives them some protection.”

Furthermore, she stated, “the Iranians are hoping that the fact that they’re in touch with the Saudis and maintaining that channel, that it gives them some protection too.”

Anwaarul Haq Kakar, the acting prime minister, traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital on Friday in order to represent Pakistan at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) emergency meeting regarding the Gaza situation.

The prime minister was greeted by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Governor of Riyadh, upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport early in the afternoon. Senior Saudi and Pakistani officials were also present, along with Pakistan’s ambassador Ahmed Farooq.

The prime minister will take part in the emergency conference being held in Riyadh to discuss the Israeli onslaught on Gaza during his three-day official visit.