Riyadh Summit Condemns Gaza ‘Genocide’, Mobilizes Int’l Support to Isolate Israel

Arab and Islamic leaders at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (dpa)
Arab and Islamic leaders at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (dpa)
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Riyadh Summit Condemns Gaza ‘Genocide’, Mobilizes Int’l Support to Isolate Israel

Arab and Islamic leaders at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (dpa)
Arab and Islamic leaders at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Monday. (dpa)

Arab and Islamic leaders condemned on Monday the “genocide” committed by Israel in Gaza.

Meeting in Riyadh for the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit, they declared that they will “mobilize international support to suspend Israel’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly and its affiliates.”

In a closing statement, they added that they will work to garner international support for the state of Palestine to become a full member of the UN.

Moreover, they called on all countries to impose an arms embargo on Israel and demanded the UN Security Council to issue a resolution that “obligates Israel to end its illegal policies that threaten the region’s security and peace.”

The gatherers strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing assault on Lebanon, calling for an immediate ceasefire.

They accused the Israeli army of “committing genocide” in its war on Hamas in Gaza, condemning the “horrific and shocking crimes” against the Palestinian people.

They also noted the “the mass graves, torture, forced disappearance, field executions, looting and ethnic cleansing, especially in northern Gaza.”

The summit called for providing “full international support and protection to the Palestinian people and state of Palestine.”

It hoped the Palestinians would achieve national unity and that the united body would effectively assume its responsibilities throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza.

It reiterated the demand for “full Palestinian sovereignty over occupied east Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Palestine”, adding that the “Al-Aqsa Mosque is a red line”.

The summit condemned “hostile Israeli measures against Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem and attempts to change their identity,” calling on the international community to intervene and put a stop to it.



Saudi FM Discusses Recent Regional Developments with Egyptian Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah holding talks with his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Badr Abdelatty in Riyadh - SPA   
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah holding talks with his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Badr Abdelatty in Riyadh - SPA  
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Saudi FM Discusses Recent Regional Developments with Egyptian Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah holding talks with his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Badr Abdelatty in Riyadh - SPA   
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah holding talks with his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Badr Abdelatty in Riyadh - SPA  

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Badr Abdelatty in Riyadh on Thursday.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the bilateral relations and explored ways to strengthen and develop them in various fields, SPA reported.

They also discussed the latest regional developments, particularly the situation in the Gaza Strip, including the ongoing Israeli occupation and its brutal attacks on the residents of the strip.

They addressed recent violations of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar and the resulting repercussions for security and stability in the region.

Both sides emphasized the importance of uniting efforts to ensure the security and safety of the region.


Qatar Meets ICC Head as It Considers Legal Action Against Israel

FILE PHOTO: The Qatari flag is seen at a park near Doha Corniche, in Doha, Qatar February 17, 2018. Picture taken February 17, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem al Omari/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Qatari flag is seen at a park near Doha Corniche, in Doha, Qatar February 17, 2018. Picture taken February 17, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem al Omari/File Photo
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Qatar Meets ICC Head as It Considers Legal Action Against Israel

FILE PHOTO: The Qatari flag is seen at a park near Doha Corniche, in Doha, Qatar February 17, 2018. Picture taken February 17, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem al Omari/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Qatari flag is seen at a park near Doha Corniche, in Doha, Qatar February 17, 2018. Picture taken February 17, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem al Omari/File Photo

Qatar has met with the president of the International Criminal Court as it seeks legal action against Israel over its unprecedented strike on its territory last week, an official said on Thursday.

The emirate's chief negotiator, Mohammed al-Khulaifi, met in The Hague with the president of the ICC, Judge Tomoko Akane, as it pursues "every available legal and diplomatic avenue to ensure accountability for those responsible for Israel's attack on Qatar", the Qatari official told AFP.

Last week's deadly Israeli strike targeted Qatar-based leaders of Palestinian militant group Hamas and sent shock waves through the Gulf states that have long depended on the United States for their security.

Hamas has said top officials of its political bureau, hosted in Qatar with US blessing since 2012, survived the strike but it said five members were killed, along with an officer of Qatar's internal security force.

In a post on X after his meeting with the ICC chief, Khulaifi said his visit had been "part of the work of the team tasked with exploring legal avenues to respond to the illegal Israeli armed attack against the State of Qatar".

Last year, the ICC launched a prosecution of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel's war in Gaza, including by intentionally targeting civilians and using starvation as a method of war.

The ICC also sought the arrest of Israel's former defense minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, who has since been confirmed killed by Israel.


Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Expand Defense Partnership with Strategic Pact

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif hold talks in Riyadh (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif hold talks in Riyadh (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Expand Defense Partnership with Strategic Pact

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif hold talks in Riyadh (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif hold talks in Riyadh (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a strategic defense agreement on Wednesday that commits the two countries to treat any armed attack on one as an assault on both, in a move underscoring deepening military ties between the long-time partners.

The “Joint Strategic Defense Agreement” was signed in Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following formal talks, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

The two leaders discussed what Riyadh described as their “close bilateral ties,” cooperation in security and defense, and regional and international developments.

The deal crowns decades of military cooperation that began in the 1960s and has included joint training, exercises, and defense production projects. Officials and analysts said the new deal - pledging a collective response to external aggression -marks an unprecedented step that raises commitments to the level of major defense alliances.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman hailed the pact in a post on X, saying: “Saudi Arabia and Pakistan... One front against any aggressor... Always and forever.”

Ali Awadh Asseri, former Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, said the agreement reflects a blend of Pakistan’s military expertise and Saudi Arabia’s financial strength and strategic location, bound by enduring political trust. “No matter how leadership changes in either country, ties only grow stronger,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Analysts said the accord does not target any specific party or replace existing security arrangements with other states, but rather signals recognition that modern threats cut across borders and require shared deterrence.

Saudi-Pakistani defense cooperation stretches back more than half a century, with both nations conducting regular air, land and naval drills. The Crown Prince’s visit to Islamabad in 2019 established a Supreme Coordination Council and ushered in $20 billion in Saudi investment pledges, cementing the link between security and economic partnership.

The latest agreement, officials said, positions the two countries in a “single defensive front” at a time of shifting global alliances. Its effectiveness, however, will hinge on follow-up mechanisms, including intelligence sharing, joint command structures and operational coordination.

Sharif arrived in Riyadh earlier on Wednesday on a state visit, escorted into Saudi airspace by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets. His trip came two days after meeting the Crown Prince in Doha on the sidelines of an Arab-Islamic summit, where they discussed regional tensions.

For both governments, analysts say, the signing is not just a legal step but a political signal that Riyadh and Islamabad have elevated their defense partnership to a new phase - one built on deterrence, joint security and shared strategic vision.