Arab summit presses for end to Gaza 'bloodshed'

Arab leaders meeting on Saturday at a summit in Baghdad urged the international community to press for a Gaza ceasefire, as Israel launched an expanded military offensive in the Palestinian territory.

In a joint final statement, Arab League members also called for funding to back their Gaza reconstruction plan, after US President Donald Trump reiterated a proposal to take over the strip.

The Arab leaders called "on the international community ... to exert pressure to end the bloodshed and ensure that urgent humanitarian aid can enter without obstacles all areas in need in Gaza."

They added that they "firmly" rejected any plans to displace Palestinians. It came hours after Israel's military launched a new Gaza offensive, saying it was part of "the expansion of the battle in the Gaza Strip" aimed at defeating Hamas.

Arab leaders at the opening session of the 34th Arab League summit. AFP

Appearing at the summit as a guest, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appealed for increased pressure "to halt the massacre in Gaza."

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi urged his US counterpart Donald Trump to "apply all necessary efforts... for a ceasefire."

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres told the summit that "we need a permanent ceasefire, now."

Guterres said he was "alarmed by reported plans by Israel to expand ground operations and more". "We reject the repeated displacement of the Gaza population, along with any question of forced displacement outside of Gaza."

Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians since Thursday in one of the deadliest waves of bombardment since a truce collapsed in March, even as US President Donald Trump wrapped up a Middle East tour on Friday.

In March, an emergency Arab League summit in Cairo endorsed a plan for Gaza's reconstruction without displacing its roughly 2 million residents.

The summit in Baghdad was attended by Arab leaders including Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.

Fuad Hussein welcomes Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed as he arrives in Baghdad. Reuters

Among the guests were Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who called for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and the flow of aid into the besieged territory. He said that the UN rejects any "forced displacement" of Palestinians.

Fuad Hussein walks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad as he arrives in Baghdad. AFP

Egyptian President Sisi, whose country is one of the main mediators in Gaza peace talks, described Israel's actions as "systematic crimes" aimed at "obliterating and annihilating" the Palestinians and "ending their existence in the Gaza Strip." He said that Egypt plans to hold an international conference for the reconstruction of Gaza "once the aggression stops."

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, the summit's host, said Israel was engaged in genocide.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who addressed the summit, said "nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people."

President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi arrives at Baghdad International Airport. Reuters

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas to abandon power in Gaza and along with other  groups to hand over weapons to the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas seized control of Gaza from Abbas' Western-backed Palestinian Authority in 2007, and reconciliation attempts between the rivals have repeatedly failed.

After a six-week ceasefire, Israel imposed a total blockade of Gaza and resumed its military campaign in March. It blames Hamas fighters for harm to civilians for operating among them, which Hamas denies.

Israel faces growing international pressure to resume ceasefire talks and allow food and medical supplies into Gaza.

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher asked the Security Council this week if it would act to "prevent genocide."

Iraq's prime minister announced the creation of a fund to help reconstruct Arab states after war, with an initial pledge of $20 million each for Gaza and Lebanon, where swathes of the south were destroyed last year in an Israeli campaign against the Hizbollah group.

Agencies