Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whose country is hosting the 34th Arab League summit, said Saturday it would provide $40 million for the reconstruction of Lebanon and Gaza after wars with Israel.
Iraq backs the creation of an "Arab fund to support reconstruction efforts" after crises in the region, Sudani told Arab leaders in Baghdad. Iraq will contribute "$20 million to the reconstruction of Gaza and $20 million for the reconstruction of Lebanon," he added.
Al-Sudani emphasized Iraq’s support for a ceasefire in Lebanon and efforts to restore stability in the region. Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid echoed this, stressing the indivisibility of Arab security and calling for joint efforts to safeguard it. He also rejected foreign interference in the affairs of Arab nations and urged the use of dialogue over force.
The summit takes place amid regional shifts, including a push by Syria’s transitional authorities under Ahmad al-Sharaa to restore ties with Arab and Western nations, ongoing Iran-Gaza tensions, and continued U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.
It expresses support for Lebanon in confronting its current challenges and reaffirms the need to preserve its sovereignty, stability, and internationally recognized borders against any aggression.
Russia Today published key points of the draft Baghdad Declaration, expected to be adopted at the conclusion of the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad. The draft addresses several regional issues, with the Palestinian cause topping the agenda.
The summit takes place amid regional shifts, including a push by Syria’s transitional authorities under Ahmad al-Sharaa to restore ties with Arab and Western nations, ongoing Iran-Gaza tensions, and continued U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.
The draft reaffirms the centrality of the Palestinian issue, calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza. It urges the international community—especially influential states—to uphold their moral and legal responsibilities by pressing for a ceasefire and ensuring the unimpeded delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza.
It calls on all nations to provide political, financial, and legal support for the joint Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza’s reconstruction and early recovery, as adopted at the March emergency Arab summit in Cairo and the OIC foreign ministers' meeting in Jeddah.
The declaration welcomes Arab initiatives to create a Gaza reconstruction fund and emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts to open all border crossings to humanitarian assistance.
It advocates for a just and comprehensive political settlement, urges deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in occupied Palestinian territories until a two-state solution is implemented, and calls on all Palestinian factions to unify under a common national vision.
The declaration affirms support for the will of the Syrian people, Syria’s sovereignty, and the preservation of its unity and stability. It condemns foreign interference and ongoing Israeli attacks on Syrian territory. It also welcomes former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent move to lift sanctions on Syria.
The draft supports ongoing U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations, hoping for positive results that ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent uranium enrichment beyond civilian needs. It also acknowledges Oman’s mediating role in these talks.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit noted Lebanon’s “historic challenge” of limiting weapons to the state and warned that Israel’s policies in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon risk dragging the region into endless confrontation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Lebanese leaders’ commitment to state control over arms and stressed respect for Lebanon’s territorial integrity.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cautioned against attempts to reshape the Middle East through force, warning of disaster. He announced Spain would submit a UN resolution to end the humanitarian blockade on Gaza and reiterated support for a two-state solution and recognition of a Palestinian state.
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