PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Saudi Arabia today to attend the 8th Extraordinary Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

The special aircraft carrying the prime minister landed at the Royal Terminal, King Khalid International Airport, about 35km north of Riyadh, at noon local time (5pm, Saturday Malaysian time).

Anwar and his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as well as other members of the Malaysian delegation, including Communications and Digital Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, were welcomed by Deputy Governor of Riyadh, Prince Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdul Aziz.

Also at the airport to welcome Anwar’s were Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah and his wife Zuhaila Abd Latiff.

Leaders and delegates from OIC member states will gather at the summit, hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the prime minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The emergency summit, held at the King Abdulaziz Convention Centre in Riyadh, follows Anwar’s extensive engagement with several OIC leaders on the Palestinian issue and Israel’s unabated military aggression.

During the summit, Anwar will again underscore Malaysia’s unwavering stance on the imperative need to conclusively and permanently halt Israel’s genocidal actions against Palestinians in Gaza.

The meeting is expected to adopt a final communique.

More than 11,000 Palestinians, a majority of them women and children, have died as a result of more than a month of relentless Israeli airstrikes and brutal ground operations in Gaza.

Thousands remain unaccounted for, believed to be trapped under the rubble of razed buildings.

International human rights organisation says Israel’s fighter jets have dropped more than 25,000 tonnes of explosives on the Gaza Strip since October 7, which is equivalent to two nuclear bombs.

In comparison, the atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima during World World II yielded 15,000 tonnes of explosives. – Bernama, November 11, 2023.