The Joint Arab-Islamic Summit has called upon Nigeria and other members of its Ministerial Committee to lead international efforts aimed at resolving the escalating conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. Convening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, the summit issued this directive as part of its unified stance on the ongoing crisis.
The announcement was confirmed in a statement released Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. President Tinubu joined leaders from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States at the summit, underscoring a collective resolve to end the violence affecting Gaza and Lebanon.
The summit also called on the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, chaired by Saudi Arabia, to step up diplomatic initiatives. Formed during the first Joint Arab-Islamic Summit on November 11, 2023, in Riyadh, the committee includes foreign ministers from Nigeria, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Palestine, and Jordan.
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In its communiqué, the summit urged the Ministerial Committee to “intensify its efforts and expand them to include working on ending the aggression on Lebanon.” It further called for collaboration with other countries in the Global South, aimed at building a broader coalition to support peace efforts and ending the Israeli occupation.
The summit’s resolutions include regular reporting by the committee, with updates circulated to member states through the OIC and the League of Arab States. Emphasizing the critical importance of safe maritime routes, the communiqué welcomed a new tripartite agreement between the League of Arab States, OIC, and the African Union, aimed at bolstering support for Palestinian rights.
The statement also praised the African Union’s consistent support for the Palestinian cause. Summit attendees condemned recent military actions by Israel in northern Gaza, calling them “acts of genocide” and expressing alarm over reported instances of torture, executions, disappearances, and what they described as “ethnic cleansing.”
Furthermore, the summit leaders criticized moves to reinforce Israeli control over occupied East Jerusalem, which they reaffirmed as the “eternal capital” of Palestine. They called for a unified Palestinian state, encompassing the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.
Reiterating its position, the resolution affirmed “the full sovereignty of the State of Palestine over occupied East Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Palestine.” The summit rejected any attempts by Israel to alter the identity of Jerusalem or further entrench its occupation of the city.
In a show of solidarity, the summit also expressed unwavering support for Lebanon’s security, stability, sovereignty, and the well-being of its citizens.
