Leaders of developing Muslim world gather in Egypt for D-8 summit with Gaza and Lebanon topping agenda

Leaders of eight of the largest developing Muslim nations knows as the D-8 gathered in Cairo on Thursday to kick off a historic summit, multiple outlets report. 

The member countries - Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey - convene every two years to focus primarily on economic issues.

But this year, a special session will be dedicated to the crises in Gaza and Lebanon. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will attend, the Times of Israel reports. 

The gathering marks the first visit by an Iranian president to Egypt since 2013. Relations between the two nations have historically been strained but the war in Gaza has brought the two together as Egypt has been a mediator in the conflict. 

“It is our religious, legal, and humanitarian duty to take more immediate and practical measures to prevent further harm to our loved ones in crisis-hit areas,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in opening statements, according to Daily News Egypt.

Iran has been a strong supporter of Hamas who attacked Israel and triggered the war in Gaza. 

The summit also brings together Turkey’s president and Iran’s president for their first meeting since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.  Turkey backed forces against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad whereas Iran had been a staunch supporter of Assad.