Despite the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas, Saudi Arabia has announced that it will host summits of Arab and Islamic nations in the coming days to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Saudi investment minister, Khalid Al-Falih, stated that the objective of the upcoming summits is to drive towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
In another significant development, Ebrahim Raisi, the President of Iran, is set to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit. This will mark the first visit by an Iranian head of state to Saudi Arabia since Tehran and Riyadh ended years of hostility under a deal brokered by China in March.
The news of the summits was announced amidst the ongoing tensions in the Gaza Strip, where Israel’s ground forces are seeking to locate and disable the vast tunnel network maintained by Hamas. The ground operations are an extension of Israel’s offensive that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.
The current situation in Gaza remains dire, with nearly two-thirds of the territory’s 2.3 million residents being internally displaced. Reports from the UN indicate that thousands are seeking refuge at hospitals, including makeshift shelters in their car parks. Many are struggling to access basic necessities, with one woman at Al Shifa hospital describing the lack of food and water, and long queues for water when it is available.
International organizations and Western countries have been making urgent efforts to provide aid to Gaza and facilitate the evacuation of foreign nationals from the conflict zone. However, the humanitarian situation is being further compounded by incidents of violence. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that a humanitarian convoy came under fire in Gaza City on Tuesday, with two trucks being damaged and a driver sustaining light injuries.
The events in Gaza have had political implications as well, with U.S. President Joe Biden expressing concern and urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to undertake a pause in fighting. Israel, on the other hand, is aiming for an “indefinite period” of control over Gaza after the conflict is over.
It remains to be seen how the upcoming summits hosted by Saudi Arabia will contribute to the peace efforts in the region, and whether they will have an impact on the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas.