Arab and Muslim-majority countries call for an end to the siege of Gaza and for Israel to be held accountable

Ending the war in the Gaza Strip, increasing humanitarian entry into the enclave and ensuring that Israel is held accountable for its "massive crimes" have been the demands of the heads of state of 57 Arab and Muslim-majority countries in the emergency summit held this Saturday in Riyadh.

This has been agreed upon in the final statement issued at the end of the meeting, held in the face of the "silence" and "double standards" of Western countries when condemning Israel's "collective punishment" campaign against Gaza, which has already resulted in more than 11,000 dead and has plunged the enclave into a humanitarian catastrophe.

Words of disappointment have once again taken hold of the Arab and Muslim leaders, who in this event have conspired to take action and take concrete stepsstarting with asking the UN Security Council to urgently issue a binding resolution to end the war.

Israel must be held accountable

In the declaration, the countries have refused that war initiated after the attacks by the Islamist group Hamas that left 1,200 dead in Israel on October 7, be classified as a "self-defense" exercise or "justified under any pretext".

They have also asked the attorney general of the International Criminal Court to "comply with the investigation of the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed" by the Jewish State not only in Gaza but "in the entire occupied territory", while they have demanded to the West to "stop exporting weapons" to Israel.

In this sense, they have requested investigate the use of white phosphorus against Gaza and southern Lebanonin addition to carrying out an investigation into the nuclear arsenal that Israel would have, something that has raised alarm bells after the recent statements of an Israeli minister who suggested a nuclear attack on Gaza as a possibility.

The end of the war, however, would not mean the end of this entrenched conflict, exacerbated by more than half a century of Israeli occupation and a blockade of almost two decades on the Gaza Strip, which before the conflict was already classified by the UN as the largest open-air prison in the world.

An independent Palestinian state

The final declaration states that the The only way to peace is the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.the solution most agreed upon by the international community but which has been abandoned over the years.

"We affirm that neither Israel nor any of the countries in the region will enjoy security and peace without the Palestinians enjoying it and recovering all their plundered rights," the countries have warned in the final statement.

To this end, the document also stipulates the convening of a international peace conference "as soon as possible" to launch a "credible process based on international law" to end "the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory."

And another of the common points that these countries have shared has been to hold Israel responsible for "the continuity of the conflict and its worsening", while they have considered the occupation of the Palestinian territories "a threat to security and regional and international stability".

Leaders speak out

The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohamed bin Salman, has been in charge of opening the summit by calling for a ceasefire to stop the "humanitarian catastrophe" in the Gaza Strip, a widespread demand from a large part of the participants. He has also called for the release of all detainees and prisoners and the "immediate cessation" of military operations in Gaza, as well as "concerted efforts" to end the siege of the enclave and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

He Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbashas asked "international protection" for the Palestinian people in the face of the attacks they suffer from the Israeli Armed Forces and settlers in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Thus, he has summoned UN Security Council to "assume your responsibilities and immediately put an end to the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza and the rest of Palestine." "The Palestinian people need international protection," he stressed. The Palestinian leader has also denounced the "attempts to displace our people from Gaza or the West Bank "and has asked to pressure Israel to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Abbas has placed special emphasis on USA, whom he has asked to put an end to "Israeli aggression, the occupation and the desecration of our sacred places."

Regarding the solution to the conflict, Abbas has stressed that "There are no acceptable military or security solutions" because "they have all failed." In particular, he has cited Israel's policy of "settlements, annexations, ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination" in contrast to the proposed solution that contemplates a Palestinian state that should be recognized as a full member of the UN by the Security Council of the UN, Abbas has stated.

He Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisihighlighted in his speech that the ceasefire must be "unconditional" and has denounced the "collective punishment" against the Palestinian population that "cannot be justified as self-defense." He has also warned of the risk of the conflict spreading throughout the region.

He Turkish President Tayyip Erdoganhas advocated for holding a international peace conference to find a permanent solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. "Israel is taking revenge, with babies, children and women from Gaza," Erdogan said, renewing his call for an immediate ceasefire. "What is urgent in Gaza is not pauses of a few hours, but we need a permanent ceasefire".

He Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al Zani, has accused the world of allowing Israel to act as if it were above the laws of International Law. "How can hospitals be attacked and the world remain silent?" she lamented. So, has requested the dispatch of a UN investigation team to clarify what is happening in the Gaza Strip, including the hospitals. Regarding humanitarian aid, Al Zani has denounced Israeli "blackmail."

He King Abdullah II of Jordan has recalled the "injustice" suffered by the Palestinian people "for seven decades" and has demanded humanitarian corridors for the entry of food.

In a similar vein, the commissioner general of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarinihas asked in Riyadh for an agreement to demand that humanitarian aid be authorized to enter Gaza and has called on Arab and Muslim leaders to launch "more powerful actions". "I am sure that many of you can influence so that there are concrete actions. No efforts must be spared," said Lazzarini.

He President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisiwho has joined other Muslim leaders in calling for a ceasefire and for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip, has said Muslim countries must arm Palestinians if Israeli attacks on Gaza continueand has called for imposing a economic and energy boycott of Israel for the bombings against Gaza, which he described as "the greatest crime that has been seen in history."