Muslim leaders condemn Israeli aggression, call for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
RIYADH: (Web Desk) The leaders of the Arab and Islamic countries in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday strongly condemned the ongoing killing of civilians in Gaza by Israel and called for an immediate solution to the issue and an end to the humanitarian crisis.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit which brought together leaders from the Arab and Islamic world to discuss the current worsening situation in Gaza and the future strategy.
In his opening remarks, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salman demanded an immediate end to the Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Terming the situation as ‘a humanitarian catastrophe’ he said that it showed the failure of the international community and the UN Security Council to put an end to Israel’s gross violations of global humanitarian laws.
The crown prince further called for an end to the Israeli occupation, illegal Israeli settlements, and restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people, besides the establishment of the state on the basis of 1967.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in his address, highlighted that besides targeting Gaza, Israeli forces were conducting raids in the occupied West Bank.
He called for an end to “Israel’s aggression, the occupation, violation, and desecration of the holy sites”.
President Abbas rejected any military and security solutions and said they categorically rejected any efforts to displace their people from Gaza or the West Bank.
Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was among the other Muslim world leaders attending the summit.
In his address, Prime Minister Kakar suggested that the Arab and Islamic countries should explore the possibility of initiating proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel for its war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Genocide Convention and under the interim measures request.
The UN Secretary-General could be requested to establish a special commission of inquiry to investigate Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity since October 7, he proposed.
