Among those arriving today were:
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE.
Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mir Diayev.
Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain Sheikh Khalid Al Khalifa.
Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani
Today, Monday, an Arab-Islamic summit will be held in the Saudi capital to discuss the situation in Gaza and Lebanon and developments in the region, in the presence of leaders of Islamic and Arab countries.
The summit aims to “discuss the continuation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, and developments in the regional situation,” according to what the Saudi News Agency “SPA” reported on Sunday.
Heads of Arab and Islamic delegations continue to come to Saudi Arabia to participate in the summit.
Yesterday evening, Sunday, a number of presidents arrived, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Sheikh Ghazouani, Senegalese Prime Minister Othman Sonko, and Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf.
The Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Muhammad Al-Manfi, and the Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, also attended.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was among the first attendees to arrive in Riyadh.
The Qatar News Agency reported that the Emir of the country, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, will participate in the summit, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in turn, confirmed his participation in it.
For its part, France 24 said that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian informed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that he would be unable to participate in the summit due to urgent “executive issues,” and that First Vice President Mohammed Reza Arif would attend the summit on his behalf.
The Saudi Al-Ikhbariya channel broadcasted scenes of the arrival of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the capital, Riyadh.
The leaders of the Arab and Islamic countries will discuss at the summit taking a unified position to stop the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, and ways to protect civilians and support the Palestinian and Lebanese people, in addition to unifying positions and pressuring the international community to move seriously to stop the ongoing attacks.
This summit will be held as a continuation of the joint Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh on November 11, 2023, at the initiative of the Arab League (Cairo) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (Jeddah).
Yesterday, Sunday, Riyadh hosted an Arab-Islamic ministerial meeting in preparation for the Arab-Islamic summit to discuss ways to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, according to what was reported by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
The meeting was chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and witnessed “a discussion of the agenda of the upcoming summit and a discussion of the most prominent issues up for discussion.”
Source: RT
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**Interview with Dr. Lina Al-Hassan, Middle Eastern Affairs Expert**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Al-Hassan. Given the significant attendance at the Arab-Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia, what do you believe are the main implications of this gathering for the regions involved, particularly with the ongoing situation in Gaza and Lebanon?
**Dr. Al-Hassan:** Thank you for having me. The attendance of multiple leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, indicates a strong collective effort among Arab nations to address pressing regional conflicts. The summit is crucial because it provides a unified platform for leaders to discuss their collective response to the ongoing Israeli aggression and humanitarian concerns in Palestine and Lebanon.
**Editor:** It seems that the presence of leaders from multiple nations also highlights the deep complexity of alliances in the region. How do you see the dynamics between countries like Egypt, Syria, and Gulf States playing a role in the discussions?
**Dr. Al-Hassan:** Absolutely. The dynamics among these nations are intricate. Egypt historically plays a pivotal role in mediating conflicts in Gaza, while Syria’s involvement represents its ongoing interest in reclaiming its regional influence. Gulf States, particularly the UAE and Bahrain under their new leaderships, have shown a willingness to engage more actively in regional politics. Their participation could shift the conversation towards more proactive measures that address humanitarian needs while balancing diplomatic ties with Western nations.
**Editor:** What specific outcomes do you hope to see from this summit? Are there particular agreements or actions that would signify a successful gathering?
**Dr. Al-Hassan:** Ideally, I would hope to see a strong joint statement condemning the violence in Gaza and Lebanon and a commitment to support humanitarian aid. Additionally, establishing a roadmap for more sustained dialogue in the region could be a step forward. If leaders can agree on specific actions, such as coordinated relief efforts or diplomatic engagements with international organizations, that would mark a significant achievement for this summit.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Al-Hassan, for your insights. It will be interesting to see how the discussions unfold and what concrete actions emerge from this significant meeting.
**Dr. Al-Hassan:** Thank you for having me. Let’s hope for constructive dialogue and meaningful outcomes from this gathering.
