Arab leaders gathered in Baghdad on Saturday to address the escalating crisis in Gaza alongside other pressing regional issues, though several key figures were absent from the summit held shortly after US President Donald Trump’s Gulf tour.
The meeting follows Trump’s controversial proposal earlier this year to have the United States take control of Gaza and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” a plan that sparked widespread outrage across Arab nations. In response, Arab states outlined a vision to rebuild Gaza during a March summit in Cairo, which the Baghdad gathering aimed to reinforce.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was the first to arrive on Friday, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani joining on Saturday morning. However, many Gulf countries sent ministers rather than their top leaders, reflecting cautious diplomacy.
The agenda was dominated by the Gaza conflict, intensified by Israel’s approval of expanded military operations described as a “conquest” of the territory. Israeli forces launched extensive strikes as part of a fresh offensive during the summit.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attended the talks, alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, known for his sharp criticism of Israel’s offensive.
Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated the summit would reaffirm the Cairo summit’s decisions to support Gaza’s reconstruction as a counter to Trump’s widely rejected proposal. Trump reiterated his stance during his Gulf visit, calling for Gaza to become a “freedom zone” under US control.
The summit also served as a platform for Iraq to showcase its progress toward stability after years of conflict. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani emphasised Iraq’s role in reshaping the Middle East through balanced foreign policy and strategic partnerships.
Notably absent was Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was barred after opposition from influential Iraqi politicians. Sharaa, a former insurgent leader and prisoner of the US invasion, was replaced by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani as Damascus’s representative.
The summit unfolded during ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States. Trump signalled cautious optimism about a deal but also issued warnings about potential consequences should talks stall, highlighting the delicate diplomatic balance in the region.
