Daijiworld Media Network - Baghdad
Baghdad, May 18: At the 34th Arab League Summit held in Baghdad, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi issued strong calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, amid one of the deadliest escalations since a truce collapsed in March.
Abbas urged Arab leaders to adopt a unified peace plan to end Israeli military operations, emphasizing that lasting peace requires ending the Israeli occupation and securing full rights for the Palestinian people.
Sisi condemned what he described as “systematic atrocities and unspeakable violence” against Palestinians in Gaza over the past 19 months, warning the actions threaten to “obliterate” the population. He called for robust international intervention—especially by the United States—to halt the humanitarian disaster. Egypt, he added, remains committed to convening an international reconstruction conference once hostilities stop.
The summit comes as Israel intensifies airstrikes, killing hundreds of Palestinians since Thursday, according to reports, even as U.S. President Donald Trump concluded a Middle East tour on Friday.
The Hamas-run media office in Gaza urged summit attendees to adopt bold actions, demand the immediate opening of border crossings, and ensure unhindered humanitarian aid to a population facing mass displacement, starvation, and medical shortages.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also addressed the summit, condemning Israeli violations within Lebanon and demanding an end to all Israeli military operations in Lebanese territory. He called for international pressure to enforce prior agreements and secure a full Israeli withdrawal.
The summit brought together representatives from all 22 Arab League member states, as well as key regional and international organizations, marking Iraq’s second hosting of the event since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
As the war drags on, UN officials and humanitarian groups have sounded alarms. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 53,000 Palestinians have died, and nearly all 2.3 million residents have been displaced. Israel’s stated goal remains the dismantling of Hamas’ military and governing infrastructure, following the October 7, 2023 attack, in which 1,200 people were killed and over 250 hostages taken.
The summit concluded with a notable announcement from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who pledged $20 million each to Gaza and Lebanon through a new Arab reconstruction fund aimed at helping post-conflict recovery.