This weekend, Saudi Arabia is hosting two summits on the Gaza conflict, which is causing concerns about a regional escalation, with the presidents of Iran and the Arab League.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League are holding emergency sessions in response to almost a month of Israeli bombardment in Gaza, which has killed over 10,000 people, many of them children, according to the health ministry operated by Hamas.
Israel launched its effort to destroy the Palestinian militant group in retaliation for the brutal attack on October 7 by Hamas militants, which according to Israeli officials claimed over 1,400 lives and captured some 240 hostages.
With Israel’s leaders rebuffing talk of a ceasefire until the captives are freed, anger in Saudi Arabia over the Palestinian death toll comes amid worries the war could destabilise the wider region and fears this could thwart the kingdom’s attempts to transition the economy away from oil.
Elham Fakhro of Chatham House stated that the largest oil exporter in the world and its neighbors are “united in fearing one thing in particular, which is a broader escalation”.
In 2020, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, two Gulf nations, restored diplomatic ties with Israel; Saudi Arabia has contemplated doing the same. All three countries collaborate with Israel’s steadfast friend, the United States, on security-related issues.
“They’re very worried that they’re going to be targeted by Iranian proxy groups who are seeking retaliation against Israel and the United States,” Fakhro told a panel organised by the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
Saudi analysts said the Arab League meeting Saturday would do well to go beyond statements condemning attacks on Gaza’s civilians, though it was unclear how the bloc might shape events on the ground.
“This (Arab League) meeting will be a success if it leads to any framework to pressure Israel to stop the war. Otherwise it will not be a success,” said Saudi analyst Sulaiman al-Oqaily.
“The urgent need now is to stop the war.”
