Riyadh Summit: Mikati Urges Immediate Ceasefire, Calls for Reconstruction Fund
Arab-Islamic Summit 2024 ©Al-Markazia

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati told Arab and Islamic leaders gathered in Riyadh on Monday that Lebanon is experiencing an "unprecedented historic and fateful crisis," calling for an immediate ceasefire. 

“The persistent Israeli aggression against Lebanon has caused heavy human losses, with the number of victims, so far, exceeding 3,000 martyrs and 13,000 wounded. This escalation has forced the displacement of approximately 1.2 million Lebanese in a matter of hours,” Mikati said in his address at the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit on Gaza and Lebanon.

Mikati lamented Lebanon’s suffering due to relentless Israeli attacks, which he emphasized violate international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, designed to protect civilians in conflict zones. 

Additionally, the prime minister reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to UN Resolution 1701, which mandates cooperation with international peacekeeping forces and the Lebanese Army to extend state authority along its borders. He appealed for an immediate ceasefire, which he said was essential for lasting stability in Lebanon and the wider region.

Citing World Bank figures, Mikati estimated Lebanon’s financial losses from the ongoing war at $8.5 billion, including the destruction of 100,000 homes and substantial impacts on health, education, agriculture and other vital sectors. He stressed that Lebanon, already in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis, cannot shoulder this burden alone.

To address the displacement crisis, he outlined Lebanon’s plan to support displaced persons and facilitate their return after a ceasefire. He announced plans for a UN-administered reconstruction fund, ensuring accountability and transparency in reconstruction efforts.

Turning to the broader regional context, he emphasized the Palestinian issue and expressed support for a just and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution. He praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s proposal advocating the establishment of a Palestinian state, describing it as a pathway toward sustainable peace and stability in the region.

In closing, he conveyed Lebanon’s yearning for peace, stating, "From a homeland under the fire of aggression, we long for peace, mercy and blessings."

Mikati also held a series of meetings in Riyadh on Monday. He mainly discussed the ongoing war in Lebanon with Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mikati emphasized during all these meetings, “the priority of stopping the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and reaching a ceasefire.” He also asked for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.

 

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