section_path: Diplomatic career/Secretary-General of the Arab League
section_name: Secretary-General of the Arab League
paragraph_text: Secretary-General of the Arab League
  
  In March 2016 Aboul Gheit was elected Secretary-General of the Arab League succeeding Nabil el-Arabi although his election was contested due to his age. His term commenced on 3 July 2016.
  
  In 2019, Gheit called the 2019 Turkish offensive into northeastern Syria a blatant violation of Syria's sovereignty. On 11 May 2021, he called Israeli air strikes on Gaza indiscriminate and irresponsible.