Emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza kicks off in Saudi capital

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AA) – An emergency joint Arab-Islamic summit kicked off on Saturday in the Saudi capital Riyadh to discuss the “dangerous developments” taking place in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories.

According to official Saudi media, leaders and representatives of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation are participating in the summit which coincides with the ongoing Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip for the 36th day.

Before the start of the summit, foreign ministers of the Arab and Islamic countries held a preparatory meeting for the summit in Riyadh, with the aim of “consensus on the draft final statement of the summit on the unified collective Arab and Islamic position,” according to Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency.

Early Saturday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that after consultations, a joint Arab-Islamic summit would be held on Saturday regarding developments in the Gaza Strip, instead of two summits.

It pointed out that Gaza and the Palestinian territories are “witnessing dangerous and unprecedented developments that require Arab and Islamic unity to confront them and contain their repercussions.”

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat