Iraq to Host Arab Summit on May 17 Amid Ongoing Gaza Crisis

Iraq will host the Arab summit on May 17, as stated by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. The summit follows an emergency meeting in Egypt focused on Gaza, where leaders called for a ceasefire and a reconstruction plan. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties and international legal challenges for Israel.

Iraq is set to host the upcoming Arab summit on May 17, as announced by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. The minister chaired a meeting to assess preparations for the summit in Baghdad, following discussions at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. He emphasized that “Iraq is working to create proper conditions to ensure the success of the summit.”

This comes in the wake of an emergency Arab summit held in Egypt focused on the situation in Gaza, where leaders addressed the need for implementing a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement. The summit concluded by approving a five-year, $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza aimed at benefiting its current residents.

The ongoing conflict has had devastating consequences, with over 48,400 Palestinians reported killed, primarily women and children, and over 111,000 injured since the onset of hostilities in October 2023. The ceasefire established on January 19 has provided a temporary reprieve from the violence.

Moreover, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last November, citing war crimes linked to the Gaza conflict. Additionally, the International Court of Justice is addressing a genocide case against Israel regarding its actions in the enclave.

The Arab summit scheduled for May 17 in Iraq aims to address regional challenges and promote unity amidst ongoing crises in Gaza. The successful hosting of the summit is contingent upon Iraq’s preparations, as highlighted by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. The backdrop of these discussions involves severe humanitarian impacts from the conflict and ongoing international legal scrutiny of Israel’s military actions.

Original Source: www.aa.com.tr