The Media Line: Arab Leaders Call for Gaza Ceasefire and Reconstruction at Baghdad Summit, Urge Unity on Syria

Audio By Carbonatix

Enlarge

Arab Leaders Call for Gaza Ceasefire and Reconstruction at Baghdad Summit, Urge Unity on Syria

By The Media Line Staff

Arab leaders convening in Baghdad on Saturday issued a unified call for an immediate end to Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and demanded the unconditional entry of humanitarian aid into Palestinian territories. The annual Arab summit, attended by key regional leaders and international guests, also pledged financial contributions for Gaza’s reconstruction and voiced strong opposition to the displacement of Palestinians.

The final statement, read by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, condemned the ongoing Israeli offensive and warned against what it called “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza. “We demand an immediate end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza and an end to hostilities that are increasing the suffering of innocent civilians,” the statement said. “Humanitarian aid should be allowed into all areas in Palestine without conditions.”

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani described the war as “a genocide” that has reached “levels of ugliness not seen in all conflicts throughout history.” He pledged $20 million from Iraq for Gaza and an equal amount for Lebanon, saying Baghdad would help establish an Arab reconstruction fund for the region.

The summit, attended by Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, and other Arab leaders, also featured international guests including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Guterres reiterated the United Nations’ opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians and called for both the release of Israeli hostages and unhindered aid access.

Egypt’s el-Sissi stressed that normalization with Israel is not a substitute for a final peace. “Even if Israel succeeds in normalizing relations with all Arab states, a lasting, just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East will remain elusive unless a Palestinian state is established,” he said. El-Sissi added that Egypt, working with Qatar and the United States, is actively pursuing a Gaza ceasefire, which helped secure the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander.