The Arab League convened an extraordinary meeting in Egypt on Wednesday to address Israel’s renewed military assault on Gaza.
The emergency session, requested by Palestine, gathered permanent delegates from the pan-Arab body to discuss the escalating crisis, according to an Anadolu reporter.
Palestinian delegate Muhannad Al-Aklouk condemned Israel’s military actions, accusing it of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and blatant violations of international law. He decried the continued violence in the occupied West Bank, warning that Israel aims to annex up to 80% of the territory.
“Israel is not just threatening Arab national security but directly assaulting it,” Al-Aklouk declared.
He urged Arab nations to impose sanctions, pursue international legal action, enforce an economic boycott, ban Israeli flights over Arab airspace, and push for Israel’s suspension from international organizations.
Since Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 436 Palestinians and wounded over 670, shattering a fragile ceasefire that had held since January.
The conflict, raging since October 2023, has claimed nearly 50,000 Palestinian lives—mostly women and children—while over 112,000 have been injured in the relentless bombardment.
International legal institutions have intensified scrutiny of Israel’s actions. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Simultaneously, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
As Gaza endures another wave of destruction, Arab leaders grapple with urgent diplomatic and strategic responses to halt the bloodshed and seek justice for the victims.