[Politics] Iran's president participates in a Saudi summit and says the meeting is to "save the Palestinians"

[TheKnight.]

 

This is what Iran's influence is like in the war between Israel and Hamas 2:40

 

 

Iran's president attends a Saudi summit and says the meeting is to "save the Palestinians"

 

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi is in the Saudi capital Riyadh for a major summit on the war between Israel and Hamas, where Arab leaders are pushing for an end to the conflict.

 

 

This is the first trip by an Iranian leader to Saudi Arabia in 11 years, after the two countries re-established diplomatic relations last March.

 

Israel-Hamas war, live: Deaths and attacks in Gaza, news and more

Raisi shook hands with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), heir to the Saudi throne and the country's de facto ruler.

 

Speaking at the summit, Raisi said all the attendees had gathered there on behalf of the Islamic world to "save the Palestinians."

 

"We have gathered here today to discuss the Islamic world's approach to the Palestinian cause, where we have witnessed the worst crimes in history ... Today is a historic day in the heroic defense and support of the Al-Aqsa Mosque," he added.

 

Raisi said Gaza's history is a "struggle between two axes" and the world must determine which side it is on, "on the side of the nobility or on the side that destroys human generations."

 

The Iranian president criticized the United States for its support for the Israeli offensive and said that Washington is "the main partner in these crimes."

 

In his opening remarks, MBS said the Kingdom "categorically rejects" the war the Palestinians are being subjected to.

 

"This summit is being held in exceptional and painful circumstances," he said.

 

"We categorically reject this brutal war that our brothers and sisters are being subjected to in Palestine... we renew our demand for an immediate cessation of military operations."

 

The president of the Palestinian Autonomous Government, Mahmoud Abbas, said that the United States "is responsible for the absence of a political solution," due to its influence over Israel.

 

Syria's leader is also attending the summit

Raisi's attendance at the summit is significant amid speculation that Hezbollah – the Iran-backed Islamist movement with one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East – could become a wildcard player in the war and trigger a wider regional conflict.

 

Hezbollah has become increasingly allied with Hamas since the war in Syria ended. Hamas leaders have met with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah several times over the past year, and the Gaza-based group's deepening connections with Iran are widely known.

 

Since Israel's war with Hamas broke out, Hezbollah has unequivocally supported Palestinian militants. He has sponsored demonstrations in support of Palestinian groups and roundly condemned Israel's large-scale airstrikes on Gaza.

 

A significant number of Arab leaders will be attending this Saturday's emergency meeting, titled Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit.

 

The summit is being organized by Saudi Arabia in response to the "unprecedented circumstances in Gaza," according to a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.

 

The meeting is designed to discuss ways to stop the "Israeli aggression against Gaza," according to an Arab League statement ahead of the summit.

 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also arrived at the summit, a further sign of Syria's reintegration among Arab states, following his participation in a regional meeting in May.

 

https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2023/11/11/presidente-iran-cumbre-saudita-para-salvar-a-los-palestinos-trax/