Arab Leaders Toughen Denunciations of Israel’s Gaza Onslaught

Arab leaders at a summit in Baghdad demanded an immediate end to the war in Gaza, accusing Israel—in increasingly stark terms—of attempting to drive Palestinians out of the enclave entirely, after Israel ramped up its bombing campaign, Ahmed Rasheed and Moayed Kenany reported for Reuters.

After a six-week ceasefire, Israel imposed a total blockade of Gaza and resumed its military campaign in March. I Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bahrain

Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians since Thursday in one of the deadliest waves of bombardment since a ceasefire collapsed in March, even as U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up a Middle East tour on Friday.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi, whose country is a key mediator in Gaza peace talks, described Israel’s actions as “systematic crimes” aimed at “obliterating and annihilating” Palestinians and “ending their existence in the Gaza Strip.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the summit host, said Israel was engaged in genocide. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who addressed the summit, stated: “Nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

After a six-week ceasefire, Israel imposed a total blockade of Gaza and resumed its military campaign in March. It blames Hamas for civilian casualties, alleging the group operates from within civilian areas—an accusation Hamas denies.

The attacks coincided with reports that President Trump is planning to relocate one million Palestinians to Libya.