Arab League Calls for Gaza Ceasefire and Reconstruction at Baghdad Summit
Regional leaders emphasise urgent humanitarian aid and political solutions amid ongoing conflict
Baghdad, Iraq, PUREWILAYAH.COM - At the 34th Arab League Summit held in Baghdad on May 17, 2025, Arab leaders issued a unified call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and pledged significant support for the territory’s reconstruction. The summit, attended by heads of state, international guests, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, was dominated by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the urgent need for international action.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani opened the summit by condemning what he described as “genocide” in Gaza, calling it an unprecedented tragedy in modern conflict. He announced Iraq’s commitment of $20 million to a new Arab fund dedicated to Gaza’s reconstruction, and an additional $20 million for Lebanon, which has also suffered from regional instability. The summit’s final statement urged countries and international financial institutions to provide prompt financial support for rebuilding Gaza, emphasising that reconstruction must not involve the displacement of its 2.4 million residents. The leaders also rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians and called for an end to attacks on the West Bank and other occupied territories.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the summit, reiterating the need for a permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and the free flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. He stressed that neither the October 2023 Hamas attacks nor the collective punishment of Palestinians can be justified, and called for full support for the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA. Guterres also warned against the repeated displacement of Gaza’s population and reaffirmed that only a two-state solution can bring lasting peace to the region.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, another guest at the summit, echoed these calls, urging the international community to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza “immediately and without delay.” He announced that Spain would present a proposal to the UN General Assembly for the International Criminal Court to examine Israel’s compliance with the delivery of relief aid into Gaza.
The summit also addressed other regional issues, including the situation in Syria, Lebanon, and ongoing nuclear talks with Iran. However, the focus remained firmly on Gaza, with leaders emphasising the need for Arab unity and international cooperation to end the violence and begin the process of rebuilding.
This summit marked the first time since 2012 that Iraq hosted the Arab League, a point of pride for the country as it seeks to reassert its role as a regional mediator and stabiliser after decades of conflict. The Baghdad summit’s outcomes reflect a growing consensus among Arab states on the urgency of addressing the Gaza crisis and the broader need for peace and reconstruction in the region.(PW)
Source: The Cradle