Arab Parliament: Makkah Summits Are Chance to Unify Arab, Islamic Stance

A general view of a meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers at the organization's headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo. (AFP)
A general view of a meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers at the organization's headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo. (AFP)
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Arab Parliament: Makkah Summits Are Chance to Unify Arab, Islamic Stance

A general view of a meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers at the organization's headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo. (AFP)
A general view of a meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers at the organization's headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo. (AFP)

The Arab, Islamic, and Gulf summits are an important chance to unify Islamic and Arab stances, maintain national security, and face challenges and dangers amid recent developments, said Speaker of the Arab Parliament Mishal bin Fahm al-Salami.

The summits will be held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday and Friday at the invitation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Salami reiterated in a statement the Arab Parliament's support to these summits, which he described as “historical” given that they are held at a crucial stage in the history as Arab and Islamic nations face serious challenges and dangers especially after the attack on Saudi Arabia.

He condemned the launch of Houthi ballistic missiles on Makkah in blatant defiance of feelings of all Muslims, adding that it was a direct and deliberate attack on vital facilities, affecting the stability of the global economy.

The Speaker described these acts of aggression as war crimes that had negative repercussions on regional and international security and peace and demanded immediate and decisive action by the international community.

Salami expressed appreciation for “the leading and pivotal role played by Saudi Arabia and its keenness to protect the Arab and Islamic national security”.

The Gulf and Arab summits will be held on Thursday, while the Islamic summit will be held on Friday to discuss developments in the Gulf region and the recent attacks on UAE’s port of Fujairah on four commercial vessels, as well as the drones attack against pipeline booster stations in Saudi Arabia.

For his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, headed to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to participate in the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers on the Islamic Summit themed: “Makkah al-Mukarramah Summit: Hand in Hand toward the Future”.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said the preparatory meeting will discuss regional and international issues.

"The ministerial meeting is expected to witness many regional and international issues that are of interest to Islamic countries, especially the Palestinian cause, terrorism, and Islamophobia, as well as the issues of joint Islamic cooperation," said Hafez.

He added that the Foreign Ministers are scheduled to adopt the draft of the final statement during the preparatory meeting, which deals with all issues relating to the Islamic nation.

Shoukry will hold talks with foreign ministers on the sidelines of the meeting to discuss issues of mutual concern, concluded Hafez.



Lebanon Detains Several People on Suspicion of Firing Rockets at Israel

A view shows a damaged site in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, as Israeli troops withdrew from most of south Lebanon, in Lebanon, February 19, 2025. (Reuters)
A view shows a damaged site in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, as Israeli troops withdrew from most of south Lebanon, in Lebanon, February 19, 2025. (Reuters)
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Lebanon Detains Several People on Suspicion of Firing Rockets at Israel

A view shows a damaged site in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, as Israeli troops withdrew from most of south Lebanon, in Lebanon, February 19, 2025. (Reuters)
A view shows a damaged site in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, as Israeli troops withdrew from most of south Lebanon, in Lebanon, February 19, 2025. (Reuters)

The Lebanese military said it has detained a group of people linked to firing rockets into Israel last month.

In a statement issued late Wednesday night, the army said it had detained several people, including a number of Palestinians, who were involved in firing rockets in two separate attacks toward Israel in late March that triggered intense Israeli airstrikes on parts of Lebanon. Lebanon’s Hezbollah group denied at the time it was behind the firing of rockets, The Associated Press reported.

The army said that a vehicle and other equipment used in the rockets attacks were confiscated and the detainees were referred to judicial authorities. The army said it had carried out raids in different parts of Lebanon to detain the suspects without giving further details.

On Thursday, the state-run National News Agency reported that Gen. Rodolph Haikal briefed a weekly cabinet meeting about the security situation along the border and the ongoing implementation of the UN Security Council resolution that ended the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war.

Three security and one judicial official told The Associated Press that four Palestinians linked to the Hamas group are being questioned.

A Hamas official told the AP that several members of the group were detained in Lebanon recently and released shortly afterward adding that they were not involved in firing rockets into Israel. He said in one case authorities detained a Hamas member who was carrying an unlicensed pistol.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Hezbollah started launching attacks on Israel a day after the Israel-Hamas war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 with the Palestinian militants’ attack on southern Israel. The war that left more than 4,000 people dead in Lebanon and caused wide destruction ended in late November with a US-brokered ceasefire.

Since the ceasefire went into effect in late November, Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes that left dozens of civilians and Hezbollah members dead.

On Tuesday, the office of the UN high commissioner for human rights said that at least 71 civilians, including 14 women and nine children, have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect.