League of Arab States reaffirms Palestinian statehood rights in extraordinary summit declaration

After an extraordinary League of Arab States (LAS) summit, a final declaration reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state. 

The statement, reported by Russian media, also addressed ongoing tensions in the region and called for immediate action to halt Israeli aggression in Palestinian territories, per Caliber.Az.

The LAS urged Israel to cease its operations in the West Bank, specifically calling for an end to the construction of new Jewish settlements, the demolition of Palestinian homes, and military actions within Palestinian settlements. Furthermore, the declaration called for the deployment of peacekeepers in the Gaza Strip and appealed to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take action to address the situation.

The document emphasized the importance of adhering to the Gaza ceasefire agreement, urging that the second and third phases of the deal be fully implemented. “The parties - especially Israel - must abide by the terms of the deal,” the declaration stated.

Additionally, the LAS reaffirmed its stance on the inadmissibility of any efforts to forcibly transfer Palestinians from their land. However, the Arab countries expressed a willingness to work with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in resuming negotiations to resolve the Gaza conflict, despite past proposals by Trump, such as the plan to resettle Palestinians, which were met with controversy.

In May 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing the right of Palestinians to full membership, thereby acknowledging the independence of Palestine. The resolution received overwhelming support, with 143 out of 193 member states voting in favour. However, the proposal faced opposition, with nine states, including the U.S., voting against it. The motion was supported by Russia, China, and key allies of Washington, such as France, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Australia, Estonia, and Norway.

Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan responded by claiming that granting Palestinians additional rights would only “encourage terrorism.” Meanwhile, US Mission spokesperson Nate Evans remarked that Palestine did not meet the membership criteria outlined in the UN charter.

In the same month, Norway, Spain, and Ireland announced their readiness to officially recognize Palestine as an independent state, joining the 143 other nations that have already acknowledged Palestinian independence.

By Tamilla Hasanova