Saudi Arabia Calls for Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit on Gaza, Lebanon

The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)
The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit on Gaza, Lebanon

The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)
The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia called on Wednesday for a Joint Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit to be held on Nov. 11 to address the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinian territories and Lebanon, as well as the latest developments in the region.
This invitation follows the previous summit hosted by Riyadh on the same date last year, under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and continues the efforts led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in coordination with Arab and Islamic leaders.
Saudi Arabia emphasized its commitment to “monitoring regional developments, condemning the continued unjust Israeli aggression on Palestinian territories, and its expansion into Lebanon, which threatens Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with serious implications for the security and stability of the Middle East.” The Kingdom reiterated its condemnation of the ongoing crimes and violations against both the Palestinian and Lebanese people.
Dr. Khalid Al-Habas, a Saudi political analyst, believes the anticipated summit will call on the international community to assume its responsibilities “to stop Israeli aggression and activate the two-state solution, urging countries that have not yet recognized the Palestinian state to expedite this process.”
He added: “The summit will also support Riyadh-led initiatives to advance the Palestinian cause, including the global coalition currently meeting in Riyadh to implement the two-state solution, as well as address humanitarian aid amidst the destruction and suffering caused by the war.”
The previous summit in Riyadh, attended by Arab and Islamic leaders, decided to “assign the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia—as the chair of the Arab and Islamic summit—as well as those of Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Palestine, along with the Secretaries-General of both the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to initiate an immediate international mobilization on behalf of all member states to coordinate a global effort to stop the war on Gaza and push for a serious and genuine political process to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace based on established international frameworks.”
The “Riyadh Summit 2023” resolution also called for “tasking both the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation with establishing media monitoring units to document all crimes committed by the occupying forces against the Palestinian people.”
Additionally, it called for “the creation of specialized legal monitoring units to document Israeli crimes committed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, with the goal of preparing legal submissions on all violations of international law and international humanitarian law for presentation to the International Criminal Court.”
The resolutions called for “ending the blockade on Gaza and ensuring the entry of Arab, Islamic, and international humanitarian aid convoys.” The summit also affirmed “absolute rejection, and collective resistance, to any attempts of forced individual or collective displacement, forced migration, exile, or deportation of the Palestinian people—whether within Gaza, the West Bank, or beyond their homeland—considering such actions a red line and a war crime.”



Saudi Arabia, Spain Sign Agreement to Build Naval Combat Vessels for Saudi Naval Forces

The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels. (SPA)
The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Spain Sign Agreement to Build Naval Combat Vessels for Saudi Naval Forces

The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels. (SPA)
The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Defense signed on Tuesday an executive agreement with its Spanish counterpart to support the construction of three new Avante 2200 corvettes entailing collaboration in training, exchanging experience, and providing technical and logistical support to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.

The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels.

Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Gharibi and Spanish Admiral General Antonio Pineiro Sanchez jointly endorsed the agreement at the Spanish Naval Staff headquarters.

The agreement aims to deepen ties between the defense ministries, facilitating the augmentation of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces' capabilities through the construction and provision of three additional Avante 2200 corvettes.

These enhanced assets are set to fortify naval readiness in safeguarding Saudi Arabia, protecting its vital interests, and bolstering maritime security in the region, aligning with the strategic aims of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Moreover, the agreement covers technical assistance from the Spanish Naval Forces throughout the construction phases, encompassing system inspection, testing, crew training, and operational post-delivery and commissioning for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.

The three new vessels mirror the technical and combat specifications of the five vessels from the initial phase of the Sarawat project delivered to the naval forces. Equipped with state-of-the-art combat and engineering systems, they are designed to effectively address air, surface, and subsurface threats.