The Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit kicks off in Riyadh

Riyadh (ST) – Highlights of the participants’ speeches at the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit, which kicked off today in Riyadh to discuss the repercussions of the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territories and Lebanon and developments in the region:

. Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman:

  This summit is being held as an extension of the previous joint summit in light of the continued sinful Israeli attacks on the brotherly Palestinian people and Lebanon.

  We affirm our support for the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples in confronting the Israeli attacks and we call on the international community to stop these attacks.

. Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit:

  The Israeli occupation wants to eliminate the Palestinian people in Gaza, forcibly displace those who remain, and kill the Palestinian hope for an independent state. We say that this will never happen.

  Today’s summit carries a message that the world cannot bear the consequences of turning its back on this ongoing massacre. The passivity of the international community has aroused the bloodthirsty greed of the occupation, which has expanded the circle of fire from Gaza to Lebanon.

. Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrahim Taha:

  The Israeli occupation continues its war of genocide in Palestine and its attacks on Lebanon in flagrant violation of international law.

  We stress the need to implement the Security Council resolution to cease fire and withdraw the occupation from the Palestinian territories.

. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas:

  More than a year has passed since the Israeli war of genocide against our people and the strangulation of our national economy, then the aggression against Lebanon and finally the disastrous decision of the occupation against UNRWA, all with the support of the United States.

  Israel’s membership in the United Nations must be suspended unless it abides by international law and ends its crimes against the Palestinian people.

. King Abdullah II of Jordan:

  The region is experiencing a tragedy that requires immediate action to stop it, as more than a year has passed since Israel launched its war on Gaza without the international community stopping it, which prompted it to continue its crimes and attacks.

  We must intensify our efforts to break the Israeli siege on our people in Gaza, end the humanitarian catastrophe, stop the escalation in the West Bank, support Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, and stop the war on it.

. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi:

  The future of the region and the world is at a crossroads, and the unacceptable Israeli aggression on Palestinian and Lebanese territories puts the international system to the test.

  We condemn and reject all Israeli plans that aim to liquidate the Palestinian cause, especially the displacement of the Palestinian people.

. Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati:

  I address you on behalf of Lebanon to express the horror of the catastrophe we are experiencing these days as a result of the Israeli aggression that spread death and destruction in flagrant violation of international law.

  The Israeli aggression has caused huge humanitarian losses, with the number of victims so far exceeding 3,200 martyrs, including more than 750 children and women, in addition to thousands of wounded.

. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev:

  The scope of the war waged by Israel on the Gaza Strip has expanded unexpectedly and its fires have reached Lebanon. It is unfortunate that the  double standards on the international scene increase the risks of expanding the scope of the bloody war.

. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim:

  We must stop the massacre committed by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon and the will of the whole world must be mobilized for this.

. Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani:

  Israel is still continuing its crimes in the Palestinian territories and has expanded the circle of its aggression to include Lebanon without the efforts of the international community succeeding in stopping it.

. Senegalese President Baciro Dioumaye Faye:

  The Palestinian people are being subjected to unprecedented violence and we cannot remain silent about the crimes of Israel for we must impose an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.

. Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon:

  The Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon are putting the region in the face of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and efforts to reach a ceasefire must be supported.

Najla Khoury