Algeria Expects Record Attendance of Arab Leaders in Upcoming Summit

Algiers completes logistical and security preparations to host the Arab summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Algiers completes logistical and security preparations to host the Arab summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Algeria Expects Record Attendance of Arab Leaders in Upcoming Summit

Algiers completes logistical and security preparations to host the Arab summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Algiers completes logistical and security preparations to host the Arab summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Seventeen Arab leaders are expected to participate in the upcoming 31st Arab Summit, which will be held in Algiers on Nov. 1-2, according to Algerian media.

All About Algeria e-newspaper underlined the attendance of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and his son Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, in light of the unprecedented diplomatic tension between the two countries.

Algeria severed ties with Morocco in August 2021, accusing Rabat of supporting two organizations it described as “terrorist” and of “hostile acts,” a move which Morocco said was “completely unjustified.”

All eyes are expected to focus on the King’s agenda during his stay in Algiers, who will be at his reception at the airport and whether he will meet with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

The newspaper said Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani are among the distinguished guests.

In addition to the Arab leaders, other attendees include Senegal’s President Macky Sall and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, in his capacity as the Head of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha will also attend the upcoming event.

The Algerian media affirmed that prominent figures will take part in the summit for the first time in many years.

In this regard, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit confirmed in an interview with Algerian state radio that the Arab summit “will see a remarkable presence of a large number of Arab leaders.”

He pointed out that a “consultation group” will be formed among the Arab leaders, to discuss various issues that benefit “unification.”

In remarks about the Summit’s agenda and the prioritized subjects, Aboul Gheit said, without elaborating, that talks will focus on rescuing the Arab countries that are facing foreign interventions, settling regional disputes and resolving several outstanding matters.

He stressed that the preparations are going according to the plan, pointing to the great efforts to make the summit a success.



Members of UN Security Council Call for Surge in Assistance to Gaza

 Palestinian man Moein Abu Odeh searches for clothes through the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, November 18, 2024. (Reuters)
Palestinian man Moein Abu Odeh searches for clothes through the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, November 18, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Members of UN Security Council Call for Surge in Assistance to Gaza

 Palestinian man Moein Abu Odeh searches for clothes through the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, November 18, 2024. (Reuters)
Palestinian man Moein Abu Odeh searches for clothes through the rubble of a house destroyed in the Israeli military offensive, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, November 18, 2024. (Reuters)

Members of the United Nations Security Council called on Monday for a surge in assistance to reach people in need in Gaza, warning that the situation in the Palestinian enclave was getting worse.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said there needs to be a "huge, huge rise in aid" to Gaza, where most of the population of 2.3 million people has been displaced and the enclave's health officials say more than 43,922 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive.

"The situation is devastating, and frankly, beyond comprehension, and it's getting worse, not better. Winter's here. Famine is imminent, and 400 days into this war, it is totally unacceptable that it's harder than ever to get aid into Gaza," Lammy said.

Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel in October last year, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council that Washington was closely watching Israel's actions to improve the situation for Palestinians and engaging with the Israeli government every day.

"Israel must also urgently take additional steps to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza," she said.

President Joe Biden's administration concluded this month that Israel was not currently impeding assistance to Gaza and therefore not violating US law, even as Washington acknowledged the humanitarian situation remained dire in the Palestinian enclave.

The assessment came after the US in an Oct. 13 letter gave Israel a list of steps to take within 30 days to address the worsening situation in Gaza, warning that failure to do so may have possible consequences on US military aid to Israel.

Thomas-Greenfield said Israel was working to implement 12 of the 15 steps.

"We need to see all steps fully implemented and sustained, and we need to see concrete improvement in the humanitarian situation on the ground," she said, including Israel allowing commercial trucks to move into Gaza alongside humanitarian assistance, addressing persistent lawlessness and implementing pauses in fighting in large areas of Gaza to allow assistance to reach those in need.

Tor Wennesland, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said humanitarian agencies face a challenging and dangerous operational environment in Gaza and access restrictions that hinder their work.

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza, as winter begins, is catastrophic, particularly developments in the north of Gaza with a large-scale and near-total displacement of the population and widespread destruction and clearing of land, amidst what looks like a disturbing disregard for international humanitarian law," Wennesland said.

"The current conditions are among the worst we’ve seen during the entire war and are not set to improve," he said.