More talk, little action:Arab and Islamic nations repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza but failed to agree on measures against Israel at an emergency summit in Riyadh yesterday. In a joint statement, the 57 nations reiterated condemnations of Israel’s actions and rejected its justification of self-defense but could not agree on more punitive measures put forward by countries such as Lebanon and Algeria, which called for severing diplomatic ties and threatening an oil embargo. The statement also called on the UN Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Israel’s actions, for the International Criminal Court to investigate potential war crimes committed by the IDF, and for an arms embargo on the country.

There were signs of internal divisions among Arab states earlier in the weekend: At an Arab League meeting the day before, divisions among its members prevented a unified diplomatic response, as four “influential countries” vetoed proposed measures against Israel, according to Al Araby Al Jadeed. The 57-nation summit combining the league with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was reportedly a last-minute attempt to smoothe over differences and create a more unified regional response, the report claims.

The fault lines:Those listed as in favor of the proposals — which reportedly included freezing relations with Israel and threatening economic sanctions — were Palestine, Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Libya and Yemen. The four countries who voted against and the seven who abstained were not named.

EGYPT WARY OF US-LED INITIATIVES-

El Sisi rejects CIA’s Gaza security proposal: El Sisi rejected a proposal from CIA director William Burns during his visit to Cairo last week that would have seen Egypt manage security in Gaza until the Palestinian Authority takes over control, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed senior Egyptian officials. The president reportedly refused to help destroy Hamas because they play a role in maintaining border security with Egypt, according to the officials cited by the outlet.

Egypt worried US and Israeli-approved safe zones, humanitarian corridors will lead to mass displacement: Safe zones and humanitarian corridors green-lighted by Israel on Thursday after talks with US officials are “deceitful” and will be used to displace thousands of Palestinians, an unnamed Egyptian official reportedly told Al Araby Al Jadeed over the weekend. This stance has been made clear to the US, the unnamed official added.

OTHER DIPLO- Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi became the first Iranian leader to visit KSA in more than a decade, meeting with Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman and El Sisi among others | El Sisi also held talks with the leaders of Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar among others | French president Emmanuel Macron became the first Western leader to call for a ceasefire | Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said Saturday that the armed group had started to strike Israel with more powerful missiles and new weapons.

HOSTAGES- Egypt + Qatar mediating hostage handover for temporary ceasefire: Egypt and Qatar are in talks with Hamas leaders to broker an agreement that would see the group release 15 hostages in return for a two-day ceasefire, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, citing Egyptian security officials. Hamas has reportedly agreed to the arrangement, but Israel and the US are continuing to hold out, the sources reportedly told the newspaper. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was in Cairo on Thursday for talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, Al Araby Al Jadeed reported. Ahram Online picked up the report.

AID- NGOs, and Arab and Western countries attended a Gaza donor conference in Paris on Thursday | Countries have pledged EUR 1 bn, though this includes some funds that were previously announced | Turkey has sent an aid ship carrying field hospital equipment, generators and ambulances to Gaza.

ON THE GROUND- Israeli troops continue ground offensive, closing in on hospitals in Gaza City: There have been reports of intense fighting in the Gaza City neighborhoods of Al Nasr, Al Shati camp and Al Shifa Hospital over the weekend as Israeli forces advance. Tens of thousands of Palestinians fled south after the Israelis agreed to a daily four-hour pause in the fighting. Hamas says it has destroyed over 160 Israeli military targets in Gaza; the Israeli military has confirmed the death of 45 Israeli soldiers since the beginning of the ground invasion two weeks ago.

Gaza City hospitals face “relentless bombardment”: Several major hospitals sheltering thousands of refugees came under heavy bombardment by Israeli forces over the weekend, according to organizations on the ground and the World Health Organization. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli snipers and artillery were targeting the Al Quds Hospital, which is housing 14k people, and that the intensive care unit had come under attack. Al Shifa Hospital — the largest health facility in Gaza and where Israel claims Hamas has its HQ — has been shelled multiple times, according to MSF, and on Saturday evening ran out of fuel, causing the death of two premature babies and endangering a further 37-40 babies relying on incubators. About 1.5k patients remain in the complex, as well as 1.5k medical personnel and 15-20k people seeking shelter, the Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson told Al Jazeera.

YESTERDAY IN NUMBERS-

  • 11,078: The number of Gazans who have been killed by the Israeli military since 7 October. Almost half of the dead are children. (Reuters)
  • Caveat: The real death toll is likely “higher than is being cited” by Gaza’s Health Ministry, a senior Biden administration official told a House panel last week. President Biden and other officials have publicly accused the ministry of inflating the figures. (The Hill)
  • 27,000+: The number of Gazans that have been wounded in the violence. (PalestineHealth Ministry)
  • 1,200: The revised figure for the number of Israelis killed in Hamas’ attack on 7 October. Israel previously believed 1,400 had been killed in the attack. (Reuters)
  • 55%: The percentage of Gaza hospitals’ that have been forced to stop operating because of the conflict. (Financial Times)
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