D8 Summit leaders call for ending Israeli war on Gaza

CAIRO – 19 December 2024: World Leaders of Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey and Iran, who attended the Cairo-held D8 Economic Summit, called for ending the Israeli aggression on Gaza, and discussed other burning issues of Lebanon and Syria.

Their call and discussions have been stated in the session on Palestine and Lebanon at the sidelines of the Cairo-held D8 Economic Summit on Thursday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that the end of the Israeli occupation to the Palestinian territories requires the adoption of the Palestinian political plan that was launched during the recent Riyadh-held Arab-Islamic Conference.

Abbas added that the plan starts with the ceasefire in Gaza and Israeli complete withdrawal from Gaza in accordance with the 2735 Resolution. 

He continued that the plan also includes that Palestine should get a full membership at the United Nations and the preserving the historical and legal status of the sacred Islamic and Christian places. 

He also noted that the decision of the International Justice Court stipulates that the Israeli occupation shall end and all settlement shall be dismantled during one year. He also said that the plan includes holding an international conference in June 2025 in accordance with the UNGA resolution.

For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that the cost of rebuilding Lebanon after the Israeli war on his country is estimated at $5 billion. 

Mikati called upon the world to pressure Israel to stop its aggression on Lebanon.

Despite the fragile ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel that was announced on November 27, limited confrontation occurred between both sides on the borders and Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon resulted in injuring a killing several people.   

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for imposing an international arms embargo on Israel and ending all trades with it.

Erdoğan said that reaching a solution based on the two-state solution is vital.

He also appreciated the Egyptian and Qatari mediation efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Erdoğan continued that the ceasefire in Lebanon and the fall of Al-Assad in Syria open a hopeful phase.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the Israeli  aggression on the Gaza Strip is a crime by all standards. 

In his speech at a session on Palestine and Lebanon on the sidelines of the Cairo-held D8 Economic Summit, Pezeshkian accused Israel of committing crimes violating the international and humanitarian laws and affecting the whole world.

Pezeshkian praised Egypt’s mediation efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza.

Pezeshkian called for granting the Palestinians the right to self-determination, and holding Israel accountable for its crimes in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.

Regarding the developments in Syria, the Iranian president said, there must be a civilian government in Syria that respects the existing differences.