he Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League held a joint summit on the horrific situation in Gaza and Lebanon in Riyadh on November 12. More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since October 7. Convened by Saudi Arabia, this emergency summit addressed the collective concern of Muslim-majority countries over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and devastation in Lebanon. It sought to consolidate a unified response to end the genocidal war in Gaza and stop Israeli incursion in the West Bank and Lebanon. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman came down hard on Israel. He said: “The Kingdom reiterates its condemnation and absolute refusal of the collective genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people.”

The Riyadh summit shows Saudi Arabia’s conventional leadership role in the Muslim world, particularly on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite being a close ally of the US, the Kingdom has recently pursued an assertive foreign policy aimed at balancing relations with both Western powers and its regional allies. Noticeably, the Saudis were opening up towards Tel Aviv in recent years until the Hamas attack on Israel derailed the diplomatic momentum. Though the Kingdom maintained a low profile on the Gaza-Israeli war due to its close ties with the US, it has recently sought to send a message to the Israeli leadership and the US-led Western powers to take concrete steps to end the genocidal war in Gaza. Growing pressure at home and Trump’s campaign promise to end war(s) are key factors behind the change.

One of the summit’s central resolutions was a condemnation of Israel’s dehumanising actions in Gaza, which MBS described as “collective genocide” against the Palestinian people. This underscores the gravity with which the OIC and Arab League view the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Both are calling for immediate international intervention to end war and rehabilitate the displaced people. The summit also demanded an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza to allow and facilitate the delivery of food, water and medical supplies, and urged the international community to impose sanctions on Israel for its violations of international law and various UN conventions.

Notably, leaders from other influential OIC states, including Turkey and Pakistan, echoed Saudi Arabia’s stance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo an criticised Israel’s policies in Gaza as violative of international law and humanitarian principles. Pakistani officials reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Palestinian sovereignty. These voices from across the Muslim world reflect a broad consensus among OIC-Arab League states, challenging the normalisation processes with Israel while expressing frustration with double standards in international responses to humanitarian crises.

Notably, leaders from other influential OIC states, including Turkey and Pakistan, echoed Saudi Arabia’s stance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo an criticised Israel’s policies in Gaza as violations of international law and humanitarian principles. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting Palestinian sovereignty.

Importantly, the Riyadh summit carries significant implications for Saudi-Israel relations. Although Saudi Arabia has engaged in the US-brokered talks aimed at normalising relations with Israel, the war in Gaza has brought substantial pressure on Riyadh to prioritise Palestinian rights. By hosting this summit, Saudi Arabia has shown its commitment to defending Palestinian interests, a stance that may delay or complicate normalisation with Israel. MBS’s condemnation of Israel’s actions as genocidal not only signals Riyadh’s position on Gaza but also conveys a warning that Saudi-Israel relations may not proceed in isolation from the Palestinian issue. This development underlines Saudi Arabia’s pragmatic approach to diplomacy, seeking to balance its domestic and international obligations without compromising its strategic interests in the region.

The summit also carries ramifications for US-Saudi relations. Though the US has historically maintained strong ties with Saudi Arabia, the OIC-Arab League criticism of Washington’s unwavering support for Israel reflects growing tensions. The call for the US to adopt a more balanced position on Israel-Palestine conflict indicates these organisations’ expectation for the incoming administration to reconsider its foreign policy approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The summit’s emphasis on a balanced US stance indicates that if the US continues its unqualified support for Israel, it risks straining US-Saudi relations and diminishing American influence in the region. The summit also urged the US to prevent a possible Israel-Iran war.

The Riyadh summit has underscored a clear message: ongoing wars and conflicts, such as those in Gaza, pose substantial risks not only to regional stability but also to global peace, economic cooperation and cultural harmony. The OIC-Arab League stance, as articulated in the Riyadh summit, emphasises the detrimental effects of prolonged violence on international relations and economic development.

The writer has a PhD in political science from Heidelberg University and a postdoc from University of California, Berkeley. He is a DAAD, FDDI and Fulbright fellow and an associate professor at Lahore School of Economics. He can be reached at ejaz.bhatty@gmail.com