Lebanon’s opposition MPs issued the following appeal to the Arab summit:

"Your Majesties, Highnesses, Excellencies, Dear esteemed Arab leaders,

We extend our greetings to you from Lebanon, a founding member of the Arab League.

We hope that your summit today marks the beginning of a new phase that folds the pages of violence, chaos, and wars and establishes the foundations of peace and prosperity. As representatives of the Lebanese people from various backgrounds, we want you as leaders representing the Arab countries, to be informed of the opinion of the Lebanese people regarding the developments in the region and Lebanon and the aspirations of the Lebanese in this challenging period.

The Lebanese Republic, always a supporter of the Palestinian cause for self-determination, the establishment of an independent state, and dignified living, has paid a heavy price over the past seven decades—losing sovereignty over its national decisions in favor of a regional axis boasting control over four Arab capitals.

Given the looming threat of a destructive war in Lebanon, we, as deputies representing the Lebanese people, affirm the following:

First: We unequivocally reject the continuation of the Israeli war on Gaza, where the Palestinian people are subjected to the worst war crimes and humanitarian violations that any people in the world could face. From Beirut, we salute the souls of thousands of innocent Palestinians and condemn the world's double standards in dealing with the people of Gaza.

The situation in Gaza requires your immediate intervention not only to arrange for a humanitarian ceasefire but rather to launch a political process based on the Arab Peace Initiative announced in the 2002 Beirut Summit. This initiative advocates for a two-state solution, necessitating the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as a gateway to peace and stability in the Middle East, promoting moderation over extremism, and implementing all relevant United Nations resolutions, including the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

Second: Lebanon finds itself at the heart of the crisis facing the region, and its people fear the expansion of a war that has already reached their country. The Lebanese state's decisions and actions are still influenced by an illegitimate armed force that serves a regional axis at the expense of its strategic interests, security, and stability. The country is experiencing political paralysis, constitutional decay, economic and social collapse, and the refusal to elect a president.

In the absence of an elected president, Lebanon is at risk of being dragged into a comprehensive war against the will of its people. The Lebanese reject any foreign interference and the seizure of their sovereign decisions by an armed internal faction.

Therefore, we request your assistance in preventing Lebanon from being dragged into war under its hijacked sovereignty and deprived decisions. We believe that your summit, with its influence, is capable of rescuing Lebanon and restoring its independence. We look forward to the summit issuing clear resolutions, affirming its rejection of any regional influence project that contradicts the Lebanese people's struggle for liberation and the restoration of their kidnapped state.

Third: Protecting Lebanon requires abiding by the Constitution amended in the Taif Accord, through the election of a President as a means to reconfigure the fully empowered legitimate authority, enabling the Lebanese state to regain its sovereign decisions, including the decision for war and peace. This will lead to the establishment of a functioning state, the activation of constitutional institutions, and the initiation of a process of reform.

We, the undersigned deputies, request your help in all international forums, particularly at the United Nations and the Security Council, to fully implement UN Resolution 1701. This resolution serves as the constitutional and international umbrella to protect Lebanon and keep it militarily neutral. It aims to avoid the expansion of the war in the region by stopping military actions and establishing a region south of the Litani River free from any presence of armed Lebanese or non-Lebanese forces outside the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and UNIFIL. We also urge the international community to deter Israel from its attacks along the borders and Lebanese territory. This should be followed by the full implementation of UNSC Resolutions 1559 and 1680, leading to border control and the assertion of the state's legitimate sovereignty over the entire Lebanese territory.

We understand how the Arab world views it with respect and brotherhood. With its people, Lebanon looks forward to regaining its vital position in the Arab and international communities. We believe that the struggle of its people for sovereignty, freedom, and peace will receive the support of its friends, and you are always at the forefront in this regard.

Best wishes for the success of your conference, for an Arab world dominated by peace and prosperity, and for the consolidation of a model of friendly and fraternal relations among our Arab countries."

The signatories of this appeal are:

• Georges Adwan
• Samy Gemayel
• Waddah Sadek
• Michel Mouawad
• Mark Daou
• Michel Douaihy
• Fouad Makhzoumi
• Ghassan Hasbani
• George Okais
• Nadim Gemayel
• Ashraf Rifi
• Elias Hankach
• Strida Geagea
• Selim Sayegh
• Bilal Al Hachimi
• Ghada Ayoub
• Fadi Karam
• Adib Abdel Massih
• Said El Asmar
• Ghayath Yazbeck
• Razi El Hage
• Nazih Matta
• Jihad Pakradouni
• Camil Chamoun
• Elias Estephan
• Melhem Riachi
• Chawki Daccache
• Antoine Habchi
• Pierre Bou Assi
• Ziad Hawat
• Elie Khoury