In a landmark gathering, the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, November 11, delivering a resounding condemnation of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.Â
The summit, which was attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and world leaders from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, deemed Israel’s actions as war crimes and condemned the brutal killings of Palestinians. Moreover, it called for an urgent international peace conference to pave the way for a realistic and lasting peace.
The communique issued by the summit emphasized the need for an immediate cessation of all Israeli military operations in Gaza. It staunchly rejected any justification for the war, asserting that it was a continuation of the 1967 aggression against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and East Jerusalem.
The summit further demanded a decisive and binding resolution from the United Nations Security Council, urging an end to the aggression and condemning Israeli occupation practices violating international law, humanitarian principles, and international legitimacy resolutions, including UNGA Resolution No. AES-101.25 dated 10/26/2013.
Notably, the summit called on the UN Security Council to condemn Israel’s destructive actions in Gaza, including the destruction of hospitals, hindrance of essential supplies, and the deprivation of basic services. The failure to act, the summit warned, would amount to the legitimization of Israel’s violent onslaught resulting in the loss of innocent lives and the destruction of Gaza.
The summit stressed the imperative need for Israel to lift the longstanding blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.
In a firm stance against the supply of arms and ammunition to Israel, the summit condemned nations involved in these transactions. It called for the International Criminal Court Prosecutor to complete the investigation into Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people in all occupied territories, including East Al-Quds.
To ensure accountability, the summit mandated the General Secretariats of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States to establish joint specialized legal monitoring units. These units will document crimes, prepare legal arguments against Israel’s violations of international law, and humanitarian principles, specifically in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories, including East Al-Quds.
The summit strongly condemned the targeted killings of journalists, children, women, and paramedics. It called for an investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into Israel’s alleged use of banned chemical weapons on the civilian population in Gaza.
Importantly, the summit rejected any proposals involving the separation of Gaza from the West Bank, including East Al-Quds. It insisted that any future approach to Gaza must align with a comprehensive solution ensuring the unity of Gaza and the West Bank within the Palestinian State. This state, the summit affirmed, should be free, independent, and sovereign, with East Al-Quds as its capital, following the borders of June 4, 1967.
