Arab and Muslim leaders have begun arriving in Saudi Arabia ahead of a crucial summit scheduled for Monday, aimed at addressing the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
The gathering, announced by the Saudi Foreign Ministry in late October, is part of an international push to advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The summit comes amid escalating violence following the October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians. Israel's subsequent military response has led to more than 43,600 casualties in Gaza, primarily civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The United Nations has corroborated the figures, calling the situation dire.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the summit will focus on the continuing Israeli aggression in Palestinian territories and Lebanon, as well as the broader regional developments. The meeting follows a similar gathering in Riyadh last year, where the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, labeling them as "barbaric."
Key attendees include Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif is expected to call for an immediate cessation of the violence in Gaza, describing the situation as a genocide and condemning Israel's "ongoing adventurism" in the region.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chaired a preparatory ministerial meeting on Sunday to finalize the agenda for Monday’s summit. The meeting underscores Saudi Arabia's leadership role in rallying regional powers against Israeli actions and its efforts to bring about a political solution to the prolonged conflict.
In addition to the humanitarian toll in Gaza, the violence has spilled over into southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah militants, backed by Iran, have engaged in cross-border exchanges with Israel. These hostilities escalated in late September following Israel’s intensification of airstrikes in the region.
