Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler has called for immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon at a joint Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit that has renewed calls for a Palestinian state.
Arab and Muslim leaders gathered in Riyadh on Monday, more than a year into the Israel-Hamas war and regional escalation, in what is seen as a chance to send a message to US president-elect Donald Trump.
Opening the summit, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the international community must "immediately halt the Israeli actions against our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon", condemning Israel's campaign in Gaza as "genocide".
Saudi Arabia "affirms its support for the brothers in Palestine and Lebanon to overcome the disastrous humanitarian consequences of the ongoing Israeli aggression," he said.
A draft resolution for the summit stresses "firm support" for "national rights" for the Palestinian people, "foremost among which is their right to freedom and to an independent, sovereign state".
Just hours earlier, newly appointed Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said it was not "realistic" to establish a Palestinian state, dismissing it as a "Hamas state".
"I don't think this position is realistic today and we must be realistic," Saar said in Jerusalem.
Foreign 'interference'
Prince Mohammed also called on Israel not to attack Iran, highlighting improving ties between Saudi Arabia and its regional rival.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned that the country was suffering an "existential" crisis and hit out at countries meddling in its internal affairs – a thinly veiled swipe at Iran.
Countries should stop "interfering in its internal affairs by supporting this or that group, but rather support Lebanon as a state and entity," Mikati said.
The Saudi foreign ministry announced plans for the summit in late October during a meeting, also in Riyadh, of a new "international alliance" to press for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Despite criticism of the impact Israel's military campaign has had on Gaza civilians, outgoing US President Joe Biden ensured that Washington remained Israel's most important military backer during more than a year of fighting.
The return of Donald Trump
Meanwhile, Donald Trump's election last week for a second term in the White House was also a topic of interest, as it provided an opportunity for regional leaders to signal to the incoming administration what they want in terms of US engagement.
In his first term, Trump's actions showed him as an even firmer supporter of Israel.
He defied international consensus by recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving Washington's embassy there.
He also endorsed Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law.
Under the Abraham Accords, Trump oversaw the establishment of Israeli diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as Morocco.
Though Saudi Arabia did not join those agreements, Trump cultivated warm ties with the Gulf kingdom while in office and has deepened his business connections to the region during the Biden years.
The 57-member OIC and 22-member Arab League include countries which recognise Israel and those firmly opposed to its regional integration.
A similar summit last year in Riyadh saw disagreement on measures like severing economic and diplomatic ties with Israel and disrupting its oil supplies.
(With AFP)
