Arab leaders promise to work on reconstruction of Gaza, press for ceasefire
BAGHDAD: Arab leaders at an annual summit in Baghdad called Saturday for an immediate end to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip and to allow aid into the Palestinian territories without conditions. They promised to contribute to the reconstruction of the territory once the war stops.
In March, an emergency Arab League summit in Cairo endorsed a plan for Gaza's reconstruction without displacing its roughly 2 million residents.
Saturday's summit was attended by Arab leaders, including Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. The Egyptian leader said that even if Israel succeeds in normalising relations with all Arab states, 'a lasting, just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East will remain elusive unless a Palestinian state is established in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.' Egypt was the first Arab country to normalise ties with Israel.
Among the guests were Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who called for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and the flow of aid into the besieged territory. He said that the UN rejects any 'forced displacement' of Palestinians.
Saturday's summit comes two months after Israel ended a ceasefire reached with the Hamas militant group in January. In recent days, Israel has launched widespread attacks in Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a further escalation to pursue his aim of destroying Hamas.
'This genocide has reached levels of ugliness not seen in all conflicts throughout history,' Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a speech that called for allowing aid to flow into Gaza. Al-Sudani added that Iraq will work on setting up an Arab fund for the reconstruction of the region in which Baghdad will pay USD 20 million for Gaza and a similar amount for Lebanon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
17 minutes ago
- News18
'Israel Has Enough Problems Without Kidnapping Her': Trump On Greta Thunberg's 'Abduction' Claim
Donald Trump called Greta Thunberg a 'young, angry person' and recommended she take an anger management class, after she claimed she was kidnapped by Israel. US President Donald Trump on Monday said that Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is a 'young, angry" person, and that she should be taking an 'anger management class". Trump also joked that Israel already has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg. Trump's remark came while he was addressing the media on Thunberg's claims of being kidnapped 'She's a strange person, she's a young angry person," Trump said, on being asked if he had a message for her. 'I don't know if this is real anger, it's hard to believe, actually, but I saw what happened. She's certainly different. I think she has to go to an anger management class, that's my recommendation for her," Trump said. On being asked if Greta was kidnapped by Israel, as she claimed, Trump said, 'I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg." On Monday, the activist arrived at a port in Israel, hours after Israeli forces boarded the Gaza-bound aid boat that she was travelling on with other activists and detained them. Israel was enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that had been tightened during the Israel-Hamas war. The boat, accompanied by the Israeli navy, arrived in the Israeli port of Ashdod on Monday evening, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry. The ministry published a photo of Thunberg on social media after disembarking from the boat. The 12 activists are undergoing medical checks to ensure that they are in good health, the ministry said. They were expected to be held at a detention facility in the Israeli city of Ramle before being deported, according to Adalah, a legal rights group representing the activists. The activists had set out to protest Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which is among the deadliest and most destructive since World War II, and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of around 2 million Palestinians at risk of famine. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
NDTV
22 minutes ago
- NDTV
Modernisation, Self-Reliance Focus In Defence Production: PM Modi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that significant changes have unfolded in the defence sector in the 11 years of his government, with a clear focus on both modernisation and self-reliance in defence production. He said on X, "The last 11 years have marked significant changes in our defence sector, with a clear focus on both modernisation and becoming self reliant when it comes to defence production. It is gladdening to see how the people of India have come together with the resolve of making India stronger." PM Modi shared a thread from a government's citizen engagement platform, which highlighted the changes in different areas as the prime minister completed 11 years in office on Tuesday. In just 11 years under PM Modi's visionary leadership, India has revolutionised its defence capabilities, deepened strategic global partnerships, and achieved historic milestones in space exploration, it said. Guided by his resolve for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', the nation has embraced self-reliant innovation and expanded its influence in trade and technology, it added. "India's Rise in 11 Years: Power, Partnerships, and Progress," it said, putting out the government's initiatives and subsequent changes in different fields. India's defence exports have soared to Rs 23,622 crore in 2024-25 from Rs 1,940 crore in 2014-15, the post said, noting the country also unveiled its first indigenous aircraft carrier in INS Vikrant. It said, "This is the story of India's rise as a confident, decisive, and respected global leader driven by PM Modi's bold vision and unwavering commitment to a stronger Bharat." India's missile power had its precision and reach elevated, it said, mentioning Brahmos extended range version, which was successfully test-fired from Su-30 MKI, among others. The threat also highlighted India's robust ties with other countries, noting the inking of its "historic" trade deal with the UK and comprehensive economic power agreement with the UAE. Highlighting India's commitment to global peace, it said the country stands as a leading force in UN peacekeeping, with over 2.9 lakh troops deployed across 50 missions worldwide. During the pandemic, India also provided two lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses to UN peacekeepers, supporting health and safety on the frontlines of peace, it added.
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Enough is enough': Former Israel PM Ehud Olmert blames Netanyahu for Gaza war; urges Trump to intervene
Former Israel prime minister Ehud Olmert (left) and current PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Image credit: AP) Ehud Olmert, former prime minister of Israel, has blamed the current PM, Benjamin Netanyahu , for failing to prevent the October 7, 2023 attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which triggered a deadly war in the middle east. In an interview with AFP, Olmert said that US President Donald Trump must intervene in the current situation and tell Netanyahu, 'enough is enough.' He asserted that the United States has more influence on the Israeli government 'than all the other powers put together,' and that Trump could 'make a difference.' 'This is it. I hope he (Trump) will do it. There is nothing that cannot happen with Trump. I don't know if this will happen. We have to hope, and we have to encourage him,' the former prime minister added. The US has remained a key ally of Israel. It has approved billions of dollars for selling weapons and military equipment to Israel, often using its veto power in the UN to shield Israel from international pressure. Olmert served as prime minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009. He also suggested that Israel should denounce the continuation of the war in Gaza as a "crime" and insisted that a two-state solution is the only way to end the conflict. He added that while the international community initially accepted Israel's argument of responding to the October 7 attacks as an act of self-defense, this perception shifted when Netanyahu, instead of ending the war in March, chose to intensify military actions in Gaza. Netanyahu "has his personal interests, which are prioritized over what may be the national interests," Olmert charged. "If there is a war that is not going to save hostages, that cannot really do more than what has already been done against Hamas—and if, as a result, soldiers are getting killed, hostages may be killed, and innocent Palestinians are being killed—then, to my mind, this is a crime," Olmert said. "And this is something that should be condemned and not accepted," he added. The Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The Palestinian militants abducted 251 hostages, 54 of whom remain in Gaza, including 32 the Israeli military says are dead. Future plan to end decades-old middle east conflict: Olmert, along with former Palestinian foreign minister Nasser Al-Qidwa, is planning to end decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians by creating a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. According to the plan, both sides would swap 4.4 per cent of land. Israel would retain some parts of the West Bank where Israeli settlers already live. In exchange, the Palestinians would receive territory for a future Palestinian state that is currently part of Israel. Ahead of a meeting this month in New York, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia on steps toward recognizing a Palestinian state, Olmert said the plan is 'practical, doable, relevant, valid, and real.' Al-Qidwa, who will present the plan with Olmert at a conference in Paris on Tuesday organized by the Jean-Jaurès Foundation think tank, told AFP that the proposal is 'the only realistic and workable solution.' However, he said people in both Israel and the Palestinian territories still need to be convinced—especially while the war continues. 'The moment the war comes to an end, we will see a different kind of thinking. We have to move forward with the acceptance of coexistence between the two sides,' he said. He also noted that serious progress is not possible under the current Israeli government or the Palestinian leadership, led by President Mahmud Abbas, who has been in power for 20 years. 'You have to get rid of both. And that is going to happen,' he added, calling the Palestinian leadership 'corrupt and ineffective.'
