Arab leaders could not agree on action against Israel over Gaza. However, in addition to condemning Israel’s attack in the meeting, they called for a quick ceasefire in Gaza. But the leaders could not reach a consensus on any economic or political decision on the expected punitive measures against Israel.
Leaders of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held an emergency conference in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Saturday (November 11) to discuss the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. The emergency conference was called to decide what to do about the situation in Gaza.
In that meeting, some countries including Algeria, Lebanon offered to threaten Israel and its allies to stop the supply of fuel oil. At the same time, they proposed to break the diplomatic relations of Arab League countries with Israel. However, at least three countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, have rejected the proposal.
Taking part in the conference, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi called upon Muslim countries to impose an oil and product embargo on Israel.
He said, there is no option but to resist Israel. We kiss the hand of Hamas for resisting Israel.
On the other hand, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, severely criticized Israel. He said the occupying (Israeli) authorities are responsible for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
At the conference, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that genocide is being carried out on Palestinians. He called for them to be protected internationally.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said the collective punishment of the common people of Gaza “under the pretext of self-defense or something” is in no way acceptable.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that an international peace conference should be organized for a permanent solution to the problem between Israelis and Palestinians.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the conference would have no meaning unless tough punitive measures were taken against Israel.
Israel has admitted to attacking more than 15,000 places in Gaza from October 7 to Friday. More than 11,000 Palestinians were killed, most of them women and children. According to the Ministry of Health of Gaza, since the start of the attack on October 7, the Israeli forces have dropped 32 thousand tons of explosives in Gaza so far. According to preliminary estimates, the housing and infrastructure sectors each suffered a loss of $2 billion.
