Arab League Demands A Meeting To Discuss Middle East Peace

The Arab League meeting in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, was dominated by discussions about Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

The leaders of the 22-member group demanded the creation of an independent Palestinian state and an international conference for Middle East peace.

King Abdullah II of Jordan stated, “Gaza will need years to recover from the destruction it is witnessing today, and it will leave grave consequences in its wake for the generations that have witnessed death and injustice.

Following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, which claimed the lives of about 1,200 people, primarily civilians, the Gaza War broke out.

Israel’s military retaliation has killed an estimated 35,000 people, the majority of whom were civilians, and its siege of the enclave has left the situation severely humanitarian.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated during his speech at the summit his long-standing demands for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages detained there, and unhindered access for relief supplies.

He continued, “Those who believe that security and military solutions can protect interests or achieve security [are] delusional.”

“International protection and peacekeeping forces of the United Nations in the occupied Palestinian territories” were also demanded in the summit’s concluding statement until a two-state solution was put into effect.