Palestinian group Islamic Jihad has said it did not “expect anything” from the emergency meetings of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, criticising Arab leaders for the delay, AFP reports.

“We are not placing our hopes on such meetings, for we have seen their results over many years,” Mohammad al-Hindi, the group’s deputy secretary-general, told a press conference in Beirut.

“The fact that this conference will be held after 35 days (of war) is an indication of its outcomes.”

Israel and its main backer the United States have so far rebuffed demands for a ceasefire, a position that is expected to draw heavy criticism during Saturday’s meetings.