Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has called for an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, condemning the actions as a “massacre” against the Palestinian and Lebanese people.
His remarks came during the opening of an Arab and Muslim leaders’ summit in Riyadh on Monday.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his outrage over Israel’s ongoing aggression, urging the international community to recognize the statehood of Palestine and to take decisive action to end the violence.
His call for an immediate ceasefire was echoed by prominent leaders from across the Arab and Muslim world, all of whom are gathered in Riyadh to discuss the escalating situation in Gaza and Lebanon.
“Israel’s actions are a massacre against the Palestinian and Lebanese people,” MBS declared, addressing the summit with urgency. “We call on Israel to immediately cease all acts of aggression and to respect the rights of the people in Gaza and Lebanon.”
The summit, attended by a wide range of regional leaders, underscored the urgency of the situation. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in Riyadh on Sunday evening to participate, while the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, also condemned Israel’s actions.
Aboul Gheit expressed that “words cannot fully capture the suffering of the Palestinian people,” highlighting the dire situation faced by civilians caught in the crossfire of the conflict.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the aggression in Gaza and Lebanon had spurred Arab and Islamic leaders to take urgent action.
“The key priorities for the summit include halting the aggression, protecting civilians, providing humanitarian support to the Palestinian and Lebanese people, unifying positions among Arab and Muslim states, and pressuring the international community to intervene and help end the violence,” the agency stated.
Among the leaders attending the summit was Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has long advocated for the recognition of Palestinian statehood, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Both leaders have strongly condemned Israel’s actions and are seeking greater international pressure to force an end to the conflict.
While Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian was unable to attend due to “executive matters,” a phone call between him and MBS confirmed that Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref would represent the country at the summit.
