Leaders from Gulf states have successfully thwarted an Iranian-led effort to advocate for arming Palestinians and severing diplomatic ties with Israel during a special summit in Riyadh. The summit, attended by 51 leaders from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), aimed to shape the region’s diplomatic response to the Israeli assault on Gaza.
Despite Tehran’s insistence on its influence through allied “resistance factions,” such as those in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, the summit’s final communique focused more on condemning the conflict and demanding an immediate ceasefire than on concrete measures to assist Hamas.
The statement called for an end to the sale of weapons and ammunition to Israel, proposed breaking the humanitarian siege without specifying the Rafah crossing, and urged investigations into possible Israeli war crimes by international bodies. Notably absent were suggestions of an oil sales ban, diplomatic severance with Israel, or arming Palestinians, proposals initially put forth by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
The tepid outcome left some disappointed, while others highlighted the unified moral support for Palestine, hoping it would compel the U.S. to influence Israel. Meanwhile, Israel faces continued challenges, with Hezbollah militants firing anti-tank missiles toward Israel from the Lebanese border, underscoring the complexity and escalation of the situation in the region.
