Arab League Summit Calls for Gaza Ceasefire and Reconstruction Efforts
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and UN Secretary-General António Guterres attended the annual Arab League Summit where leaders from various Arab nations underscored their commitment to achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and pledged to support the territory's reconstruction. The summit took place in Baghdad on May 17, 2025, gathering prominent figures including Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
During the summit, Sánchez spoke critically about the ongoing violence, labeling Israel as a genocidal state and urging the international community to exert pressure on Israel to stop its actions in Gaza. Guterres echoed these sentiments, advocating for the immediate release of Israeli hostages and the crucial flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has endured a severe blockade by Israel for over two months. He reaffirmed the UN's stance against the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called for an unimpeded flow of aid to Gaza, condemning the situation as genocide, and announced that Iraq would contribute $20 million towards an Arab fund aimed at Gaza reconstruction, along with a similar amount for Lebanon. Meanwhile, el-Sissi revealed that Egypt is actively working with Qatar and the United States to facilitate a ceasefire and intends to host an international conference focused on Gaza's reconstruction once the conflict abates.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank, urged Hamas to relinquish its weapons to allow for a coherent governance structure capable of leading reconstruction efforts. The absence of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was noted; he delegated his foreign minister instead due to pushback from Iraqi Shiite militias wary of his leadership.
On the eve of the summit, Israel announced a new phase in its ongoing operations in Gaza, termed 'Gideon's Chariots,' which involves extensive military actions aimed at achieving operational control over Gaza. This escalation drew alarm from Guterres, who expressed concern at the prospect of Israel expanding its ground operations further.
Additionally, documents obtained by Euronews indicated that the Israeli government is contemplating the establishment of a new governance entity in Gaza following a potential defeat of Hamas.
The 34th Arab League Summit served as a platform for regional leaders to address pressing matters affecting the Arab world, highlighting the urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for collective action towards peace and reconstruction.
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