The Organization of Islamic Cooperation will hold a meeting

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia today.

The main topic of discussion is the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The OIC consists of Muslim-majority states across Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa as well as states with significant Muslim minorities. There are different stances across the Muslim world on the conflict, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates pursuing normalization of relations with Israel, while Iran supports Hamas along with other anti-Israel groups such as Hezbollah. While Saudi Arabia paused talks on a formal agreement with Israel, it has been more hesitant to criticize Israeli actions.

Due to these different stances on Israel, it is unlikely that the OIC will form any consensus on the conflict beyond calls for a ceasefire and supplying humanitarian aid. While recent mediation by China helped normalize relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, both sides remain rivals in the region and within the Islamic world. Should significant differences of opinion form because of the meeting, Saudi-Iranian relations could also worsen in the longer term. A worsened relationship could manifest itself in an intensification of the ongoing regional arms race between them.