Iraq to host Arab summit on May 17 amid regional efforts to address Gaza conflict

Reuters

Iraq is set to host an Arab summit on May 17, according to Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, who chaired a meeting in Baghdad to review preparations for the upcoming gathering.

The minister noted that the summit’s date was established following discussions at the Cairo-based Arab League, emphasizing that “Iraq is working to create proper conditions to ensure the success of the summit.”

The planned summit is expected to focus on broad regional issues, even as other Arab nations address immediate crises. Just this week, Egypt hosted an emergency Arab summit on Gaza, where leaders reiterated the urgent need to fully implement a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement to bring about a permanent end to the Israeli military offensive and achieve a complete withdrawal from the territory. The summit also approved a five-year, $53 billion plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents.

These high-level meetings come amid ongoing turmoil in the region. Since October 2023, the conflict in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 48,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, with over 111,000 injured. The ceasefire that paused the hostilities took effect on January 19. In a related development, last November the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, while Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.

As Iraq prepares to host its summit on May 17, regional leaders and international observers will be watching closely to see how discussions may address both long-standing regional concerns and the immediate humanitarian and security challenges stemming from the Gaza conflict.

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