IRIA News

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The 34th Arab League Summit commenced on May 17, 2025, in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad. The humanitarian catastrophe and Israel’s unprecedented attack on Gaza are taking top priority on the agenda.

Leaders and top officials from the 22 Arab League member states arrived for the high-stakes gathering, which also comes amid intensified geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Held at the Republican Palace inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, the summit marks Iraq’s return to a central role in regional diplomacy after more than a decade. This is the fourth time Iraq has hosted the summit since the Arab League’s founding and the first since 2012.

The summit follows the fall of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and the ascent of his successor, Ahmad Al Sharaa, as well as the recent announcement from the United States regarding the lifting of sanctions on Syria.

Baghdad declaration

The Baghdad Declaration, adopted after the 34th Arab League Summit, reaffirmed the Arab states’ firm support for Syria’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity as essential pillars of regional stability.

The declaration categorically rejected all forms of external interference in Syria’s internal affairs and condemned continued Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, which it described as violations of sovereignty aimed at undermining Syria’s national capabilities. It called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take decisive action to halt such violations and uphold international law.

Additionally, the declaration welcomed recent international steps to ease Syria’s isolation. Arab leaders praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria and expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for facilitating this shift. The easing of European sanctions was also acknowledged as a step toward enabling Syria’s recovery, reconstruction, and the dignified return of refugees.

The declaration further urged the initiation of a comprehensive national dialogue that includes all Syrian factions, laying the foundation for a political transition that preserves societal diversity, respects all religious and cultural components, and fosters long-term peace.

Gaza dominates talks as death toll mounts.

The ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza emerged as the most pressing issue. Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s operations have resulted in the deaths of over 53,000 Palestinians, many of whom are women and children, in what Arab leaders have increasingly described as a genocide. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, infrastructure decimated, and nearly the entire population displaced or left in dire humanitarian conditions.

At the summit’s opening session, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid issued a strong denunciation of the violence, calling it “ongoing Israeli aggression.” He warned against any forced displacement of Palestinians and insisted that “our shared Arab security cannot be fragmented.” His statement was echoed by Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, who emphasized his country’s commitment to ceasefire efforts and Gaza’s reconstruction.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also attended the Summit of the League of Arab States in Baghdad and raised serious concerns about the situation in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. On the resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, he emphasized, “A two-State solution – Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States – is not just a vision. It is a necessity. That goal has never been more imperative – but unfortunately also never more distant.”

The situation for Palestinians in Gaza is beyond description, beyond atrocious & beyond inhumane.

A policy of siege & starvation makes a mockery of international law. The blockade against humanitarian aid must end immediately.

This is a moment for moral clarity & action. pic.twitter.com/ZsIzwo4tdp

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 17, 2025

Guterres further highlighted, “A two-State future is disappearing before our eyes and we need to reverse this trend. In Gaza, the situation for Palestinians is beyond description … beyond atrocious … and beyond inhumane. A policy of siege and starvation makes a mockery of international law. The blockade against humanitarian aid must end immediately.”

Mahmoud Abbas demands a unified Arab response.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas delivered a plea for coordinated Arab action to end the war and rebuild the Gaza Strip. He proposed convening an international conference in Cairo that would focus on mobilizing funds and resources to reconstruct Gaza, now rendered “uninhabitable” after nearly 20 months of siege and bombardment.

In a gesture toward political reform, Abbas also expressed readiness to hold presidential and legislative elections in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem within the coming year, conditional on a stable security environment.

Abbas’s remarks appeared aimed at presenting the Palestinian Authority as a legitimate and willing partner in rebuilding and reconciliation, amid criticism over its relevance and effectiveness during the conflict.

Egypt’s Sisi urges US to pressure Israel

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi delivered one of the summit’s more pointed diplomatic messages by directly calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene. “Apply pressure to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza,” Sisi urged. He stressed that regional peace cannot be achieved merely through normalization deals with Israel but requires the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.

Sisi’s remarks came against the backdrop of a fragile regional consensus. While some Arab states have formalized or expanded ties with Israel in recent years, public outrage over the Gaza war has pressured governments to recalibrate their diplomatic positions. Sisi’s speech was widely interpreted as a call to refocus Arab and international attention on a comprehensive two-state solution.

Spain backs UN initiative to lift Gaza blockade.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also addressed the summit, underscoring the gravity of the humanitarian crisis. “Palestine is bleeding before our eyes,” Sanchez said, criticizing the international community’s failure to respond effectively.

Sanchez announced that Spain and Palestine are collaborating on a new initiative at the United Nations aimed at lifting Israel’s blockade on Gaza. He proposed four key objectives: halting the humanitarian disaster, increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel, advancing a political resolution to the conflict, and strengthening Arab-European-Islamic cooperation to address regional instability.

Iraq pledges reconstruction funds for Gaza and Lebanon.

In a bid to show leadership and solidarity, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani proposed the creation of an Arab reconstruction fund to support countries affected by war and political instability. “Iraq is contributing $20 million for the reconstruction of Gaza, and another $20 million for the reconstruction of brotherly Lebanon,” Sudani announced to applause.

He emphasized Iraq’s commitment to supporting “recovery and resilience” in conflict zones and stressed that rebuilding efforts must be paired with political solutions. The proposal aligns with calls by other leaders for Arab nations to take greater financial responsibility for post-conflict recovery in the region, rather than relying solely on international donors.

Regional agenda: Yemen, Sudan, Iran Nuclear Talks

While Gaza dominated discussions, the summit also tackled several long-standing regional crises. The wars in Yemen and Sudan, the fragile peace in Libya, and Lebanon’s political paralysis were all on the agenda. Additionally, participants discussed the stalled nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, with many expressing concerns over Tehran’s expanding influence.

Other key agenda items included the future of Jerusalem, the status of Palestinian refugees, funding for UNRWA, and concerns over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Climate change, a growing threat in the region, was also listed as a major priority.