Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) arrives at Baghdad International Airport ahead of the 34th Arab League summit, in the Iraqi capital, May 16, 2025. (Photo via AP)
Baghdad, May 17 (RHC)-- Arab leaders have convened in the Iraqi capital Baghdad to take part in the 34th Arab League Summit, with the Israeli genocide against Gaza expected to be a primary focus. The summit kicked off on Saturday with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid leading the sessions.
Top diplomats of Arab states agreed that the continued Israeli regime forces' genocidal war against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip would be in the limelight during the summit. Foreign Ministers of the Arab League had met earlier on Thursday to finalize the summit’s agenda which included main issues concerning West Asia and North Africa.
The Arab League has also invited UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to attend the international summit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent his greetings to the Arab leaders taking part in the summit, reminding them that their meeting was being held at a difficult time in the region.
“The escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives, has dramatically aggravated tensions and enhanced many social and economic problems in adjacent countries and throughout the Middle East as a whole,” he said.
“The role of the Arab League as an effective mechanism for multilateral dialogue and interaction is especially important in this situation,” he added.
Putin said he was confident that this meeting will help strengthen multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation between the countries and explore ways to bring about peace, security and stability in West Asia and North Africa.
Saturday’s summit comes two months after the Tel Aviv regime ended a ceasefire reached with Gaza’s authorities and resumed its deadly attacks in Gaza while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to further intensify the devastating war to pursue his aim of eliminating the ruling Palestinian Hamas resistance movement.
The Arab League Summit also follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s 4-day tour in the region earlier in the week. During Trump’s visit, Saudi Arabia promised to invest $600 billion in the U.S., and major projects were signed with the United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi in March committed to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment framework in the U.S. Qatar and the Unite States agreed on a $1.2 trillion “economic exchange.”
[ SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS and NEWS AGENCIES ]
