Baghdad: Iraq will host an upcoming Arab summit on May 17, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced on Thursday. According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Hussein chaired a meeting to review preparations for hosting the summit in Baghdad. The top diplomat mentioned that the date was established following discussions he had at the Cairo-based Arab League. "Iraq is working to create proper conditions to ensure the success of the summit," he added.

According to Anadolu Agency, the announcement comes shortly after an emergency Arab summit on Gaza was hosted by Egypt. During this summit, leaders emphasized the urgent need to implement a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement fully, aiming for a permanent cessation of the Israeli war and a complete withdrawal from the territory. The summit also approved a five-year, $53 billion plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents.

The conflict has resulted in over 48,400 Palestinians being killed, primarily women and children, and over 111,000 others injured since October 2023. The severe impact on the enclave has been temporarily halted under a ceasefire agreement that began on January 19. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.