BAGHDAD, May 17 (KUNA) -- The 34th Arab Summit in Baghdad on Saturday emphasized the centrality of the Palestinian cause, the importance of boosting inter-Arab cooperation as well as addressing challenges and finding paths to achieve the aspirations of the Arab people.
The summit's final communique came out with several resolutions including one concerning the Palestinian cause, which was one of the main focuses in this summit due to the current dire situation in the Gaza Strip in addition to the Israeli occupation assault and harassment of Palestinians living in the West Bank.
On Palestine, Arab leaders said that the right of Palestinian for self-determination whether within Palestine or amongst the refugee populace abroad was undeniable.
The summit's participants condemned the inhumane and illegitimate practices carried out by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people who have the right for dignity and freedom as found in all creeds and relative international laws and norms.
The unjust war against the Gaza Strip must end to protect innocent civilians and allow much-needed humanitarian aid to enter the war-stricken Gaza Strip, they affirmed.
The leaders noted that all countries must provide political, financial, and legal assistance based on the plans of the Arab emergency summit and the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) Foreign Ministers meeting in Cairo and Jeddah on March 4, 2025 and March 7, 2025 respectively.
They indicated that the plans would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the reconstruction and recovery of the Gaza Strip, expressing refusal of any attempt to displace Palestinians and kick them out of their lands and homes.
Establishing a Gaza reconstruction fund was paramount as per the Cairo emergency summit in 2023 and the Arab-Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia in 2024, the conferees affirmed, indicating that establishing a fund to rebuild Lebanon was also on the table and a priority.
Opening crossings to the Gaza Strip and supporting UNRWA in all of Palestine are necessary steps and the Israeli occupation must be pressured to allow such necessary steps to be implemented, they agreed, welcoming at the same time, the establishment of a cooperation fund with the UN to sponsor 40,000 Palestinian orphans, amputees and wounded.
The conferees called for resolving the Palestinian issue in a just and comprehensive manner to establish an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 border and within the framework of the two-state solution, the Arab peace initiative, and international resolutions concerning the cause.
They called for the deployment of UN troops in Palestine to ensure the execution of the two-state resolution, calling on the UNSC to enforce such plan in a certain timeframe and prevent any attempts to destabilize the region.
The attendees called on the Palestinian factions to unite behind a national plan to achieve the aspiration of the Palestinian people for an independent state, expressing at the same time welcome of the UNGA's resolution on May 10, 2024 calling for the full membership of Palestine in the UN as the 143rd state.
They called on the UNSC to reconsider its decision on April 18, 2024, which went against the desire of the Palestinian people for life, freedom, and human dignity, saying that resolutions related to the rights of Palestinians and occupied Arab territories must be implemented at once.
The Arab Leaders and participants called on the UNSC to execute resolution 2720, which called for increasing aid for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, affirming in the same regard, the imperativeness of ending the Israeli occupation of Arab lands including the Golan Heights and southern Lebanon according to related-UNSC resolutions.
On the status of Jerusalem, the leaders stressed the importance of the holy city to all members of the Abrahamic faiths, condemning in this regard, the Israeli occupation violations of Islamic and Christian sites in the city and elsewhere in Palestine.
They expressed support to the Jordanian custodianship over Jerusalem Islamic and Christian sites, reaffirming that Al-Aqsa mosque was a sacred sanctuary to Muslims from around the globe.
The conferees commended Spain, Norway and Ireland for their recognition of the Palestinian state in 2024, urging other countries to follow suit and commit to this historic and humanitarian obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's right for dignity and freedom.
The leaders also showed solidarity towards South Africa's case against the Israeli occupation and their genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
On Syria, the leaders expressed solidarity to all the people of Syria regardless of their background, ethnicity or religion, saying that the fellow Arab country deserves stability, security, and development.
They refused all attempts to undermine Syria's unity, showcasing support to all international resolutions focusing on a united Syria through a political process that would ensure the rights of all segments of the Syrian people.
The leaders welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump during his visit to Saudi Arabia on May 13, 2025, resulting in the lifting of sanctions on Syria, stressing that such step would help build a stronger Syria political, economically, and financially.
Reducing European Commission sanctions was also a welcomed step, they asserted, saying that the priorities now were bringing back refugees, and supporting national dialogue.
The leaders expressed support to Lebanon, underlining in the process the importance of respecting the country's sovereignty, refusing attempts at division amongst Lebanese, and expressing support towards political and economic reforms.
They stressed the importance of implementing UNSC resolution 1701, saying that the Israeli occupation had repeatedly violated international laws concerning the issue.
The Israeli occupation must withdraw from internationally recognized Lebanese territories, release prisoners taken during the last round aggression on Lebanon, and refer back to 1949 Armistice Agreements, which ensured Lebanon's security, stability and sovereignty and also called for the return of displaced Syrians to their country, they said.
On Yemen, the Arab leaders and participants expressed solidarity with the legitimate government in Yemen, saying it was paramount to keep and support unity in the Arab country and find solutions to bring Yemenis together to achieve prosperity and the dreams of the people of the country.
In regards to Sudan, they stressed that the conflict there must be resolved, unity must be upheld, and humanitarian aid must be delivered to people in desperate need of support since the war began in 2023.
Turning to Libya, the conferees expressed support to national dialogue that would help achieve unity amongst Libyans and boost prosperity and development in the Arab country.
They called for the expulsion of foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, expressed detest and refusal of all foreign intervention and meddling in Libyan affairs, calling for measures to hold elections and enable the Libyans to choose their leaders in a fair process.
On Somalia, the leaders displayed agreement on reinforcing stability and security in the fellow Arab country, supporting the legitimate government there against security challenges and aiding plans for sustainable development.
The attendees condemned all acts of terror in Somalia and the attempt to assassinate President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in March 2025.
The summit expressed solidarity with the UAE and its right over the three occupied Islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, calling for a peaceful resolve of the issue in accordance to international laws and the UN charter.
On joint Arab cooperation and facing challenges, the attendees stressed the importance of clearing the region from Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in accordance to UNGA decision 73/546 concerning the establishment of a nuclear weapons-free Middle East.
The leaders affirmed the importance of Arab water security, stressing and commending this regarding the efforts of Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, and Syria.
The leaders called for boosting efforts to address current development challenges including the domains of food security, health, energy, and climate change, saying it was important to develop mechanisms in each sector.
On battling terrorism, Arab leaders stressed their unwavering stance on the issue, saying that the so-called Islamic State (IS), Al-Qaeda or any affiliated group had no place in the region.
Terror financing, drug and human trafficking, money laundering and all suspicious and criminal activities must be met with force due to their negative impact on the Arab world, the conferees agreed, calling for wider regional and international efforts in this regards.
The conferees welcome Iraq's efforts in this regard, showcasing support to the Iraqi police and army's efforts to vanquish terrorists and their groups across the country.
They welcomed Baghdad's announcement of hosting an international conference for the victims of terrorism in 2026, saying the initiative reinforced Iraq's strong stance against terror. Anti-terror accords and efforts must be executed to prevent terrorism from thriving, asserted the leaders, who called for implementing Arab League and international resolutions in this frame.
They stressed the importance of boosting cybersecurity amongst Arab countries, saying that protecting data, digital assets within a unified Arab strategy was necessary and commending in this regard Saudi Arabia's establishment of an Arab council for cybersecurity.
On regional and international developments, the leaders expressed their condolences over the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, and congratulated the new Pope Leo XIV for attaining the papacy.
They called for boosting diplomacy in the region and worldwide commending efforts by Oman, which organized negotiations between the US and Iran on the latter's nuclear file.
They also expressed support to the UN charter, international law, 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and all agreements aimed at bettering humanity and the future. (end) gta