Arab Summit Reaffirms Centrality Of Palestinian Cause And Calls For Humanitarian Action

The 34th Arab Summit in Baghdad highlighted the Palestinian issue, reaffirming support for their rights, including statehood on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital. The summit urged an end to the Gaza conflict and called for international action to halt violence and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

Arab leaders condemned forced displacement of Palestinians, labelling it a violation of international law and an act of ethnic cleansing. They criticised tactics like starvation aimed at displacing Palestinians. The summit also rejected any attempts to alter Jerusalem's identity and supported Hashemite custodianship over its holy sites.

The summit backed South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. It also reiterated support for UAE sovereignty over three islands occupied by Iran, urging Iran to engage in peaceful resolution through negotiations or legal channels.

On Syria, leaders emphasised support for its sovereignty and unity while condemning Israeli attacks. They welcomed US President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria. For Lebanon, they demanded Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and supported efforts to return displaced Syrians.

The declaration stressed the importance of opening crossings for humanitarian aid into Palestinian territories. It called for empowering UN agencies like UNRWA to operate fully with international backing. Leaders urged financial contributions for the Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan adopted earlier this year.

In Yemen, the summit expressed solidarity with its sovereignty and unity, supporting dialogue-based efforts to end the war and achieve stability while rejecting external interference. On Sudan, it advocated a political solution preserving sovereignty and enabling safe humanitarian access.

Commitment to Joint Action

The communiqué called for creating a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East, urging all parties to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty. It highlighted water security as crucial for Arab national security, supporting Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, and Syria's efforts to secure water rights.

The summit condemned terrorism by groups like Daesh and Al-Qaeda, stressing that terrorism threatens regional stability. It called for unified responses and cooperation among Arab counterterrorism agencies while urging measures against hate speech and extremism.

Enhancing Cooperation

Arab leaders stressed enhancing collective capacity to tackle development challenges such as food security, health, energy, and climate change. They advocated institutionalising Arab cooperation mechanisms and enhancing cybersecurity cooperation to protect digital infrastructure.

The declaration welcomed ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks aimed at ensuring peaceful nuclear energy use. Finally, it reaffirmed commitment to working with the United Nations towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The summit concluded by emphasising close cooperation with UN agencies to uphold peace and security globally while promoting renewable energy and protecting human rights.

With inputs from WAM