Ebrahim Raisi is making the journey after Tehran and Riyadh normalized ties earlier this 12 months
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has stated “motion” somewhat than “phrases” is required to resolve the Israel-Palestine battle, forward of his arrival in Riyadh on Saturday for a summit that includes Arab and Islamic leaders. It’s the first go to to Saudi Arabia by an Iranian head of state since a Chinese language-brokered deal in March restored ties between the 2 nations.
Raisi, who was sporting a standard Palestinian keffiyeh scarf upon his arrival within the Saudi capital, was met on the airport by officers forward of a joint assembly of the Arab League and the Group of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is able to focus on the hostilities in Gaza.
The 2 regional blocs had been initially scheduled to convene individually, however it was introduced by the Saudi Overseas Ministry on Friday that the conferences can be mixed.
“Gaza will not be an enviornment for phrases. It needs to be for motion,” Raisi stated in Tehran earlier than departing for Riyadh, Reuters reported. “As we speak the unity of Islamic nations is essential.”
The joint summit additionally displays the necessity for “unified efforts to provide you with a collective Arab and Islamic place to deal with the harmful and unprecedented developments witnessed in Gaza and the Palestinian territories and comprise their repercussions,” the Saudi press company stated on Friday.
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Israel has crossed red lines – Iran
A number of Center Jap leaders have referred to as for a ceasefire amid Israel’s bombardment of the densely-populated Gaza enclave, in retaliation for the October 7 cross-border assault by Hamas militants. Israel stated on Friday that roughly 1,200 folks, principally civilians, had been killed within the Hamas assault, revising down a previous estimate of 1,400.
Palestinian officers have reported that greater than 11,000 folks have thus far died in Israeli strikes as a part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to “get rid of Hamas.” About 40% of these killed are youngsters, the territory’s Well being Ministry stated.
Upfront of the journey, Raisi was vital of Washington’s staunch assist for Israel within the battle. “America says it doesn’t need an growth of the battle and has despatched messages to Iran and several other nations [to this effect],” he stated on Saturday, in accordance with Reuters. “However these statements aren’t in step with America’s actions.”
“The battle machine in Gaza is within the arms of America, which is stopping a ceasefire in Gaza and increasing the battle. The world should see the true face of America,” Raisi added.
US President Joe Biden informed reporters on the White Home this week that there’s at present “no chance” of a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing that doing so would solely present Hamas with a possibility to regroup and launch one other assault on Israel.
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