ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday pledged a sum of 40 million US dollars to Gaza and Lebanon during the 34th Arab League summit underway in Baghdad, as leaders from the Arab world and beyond voiced their concern over the conflict.

Baghdad hosted the 34th Arab League Summit on May 17, where leaders from member states gathered to discuss the latest developments across the Arab world, with the war on Gaza taking center stage as world leaders came together, urging an end to the bloody conflict.

“We affirm Iraq's contribution of $20 million for the reconstruction of Gaza and $20 million for the reconstruction of our brotherly Lebanon,” the prime minister said during his speech at the event.

While reiterating his country’s rejection of “the forced displacement of Palestinians,” Sudani urged an end to “the massacres in Gaza, the attacks on the West Bank and the occupied territories,” and the opening of the doors to humanitarian aid.

Before Sudani’s pledge, the summit kicked off with an opening speech from Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, where he reiterated his country's support for a two-state solution to the conflict, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, and commitment to all ceasefires and the release of all hostages.

On October 7, 2023, Palestinian Hamas launched the al-Aqsa Flood operation, an unprecedented aerial and ground attack into southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people.

In response, Israel launched a full-scale military campaign in Gaza, which is still ongoing a year later. Over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of the Israeli offensive. Despite serious attempts at a ceasefire and a peaceful solution, efforts toward peace have borne little fruit.

Tel Aviv has blockaded the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza since early March, resulting in devastating consequences for the afflicted population, with the UN’s World Food Programme reporting in late April that the last of its food stocks in the Strip had been depleted.

“We have called, and continue to call, for serious and responsible Arab action to save Gaza and reactivate [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] UNRWA's role in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” Sudani said.

The Israeli military has also expanded its operations to Lebanon, carrying out heavy attacks that have targeted civilian areas, leading to significant casualties and widespread destruction.

Iraq has time and again reiterated its firm position in supporting the Palestinian cause and called for an end to the Israeli aggression on numerous occasions.

The summit was conducted in the presence of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who demanded an “end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” adding that “to this end, Spain and Palestine are promoting a new resolution project in the General Assembly of the United Nations,” in which they will demand Israel end the humanitarian blockade imposed on Gaza and demand “the total and unrestricted access” of humanitarian assistance.

Sanchez also called for a redoubling of “pressure on Israel to stop the massacre in Gaza.”

The guest of honor asserted that “the only way toward peace in the region is the implementation of the two-state solution” and called on “other countries to advance in the recognition of the Palestinian state,” following in the footsteps of Spain, who recognized the Palestinian state last year.