Today's Edition
ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)
Arab leaders gathered in Cairo on Tuesday for an emergency summit to address the future of Gaza, agreeing on a plan to rebuild the enclave and restore Palestinian governance and strongly rejecting any attempt to displace its people. They stressed that a political solution, not temporary measures, was the only way to ensure long-term stability.
The Extraordinary Arab Summit on the Palestinian Cause, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, aimed to unify the Arab position, secure international backing for reconstruction, and reaffirm support for Palestinian statehood.
In his opening speech, the Egyptian President described the war on Gaza as "a stain in the history of humanity", calling for a concrete path towards peace and warning that failing to address the situation would only prolong suffering and instability.
"It is time to present a path to peace that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy," he said, adding that Egypt would host an international conference next month to rally support for Gaza's reconstruction and urging the international community to participate.
He detailed a plan that includes forming an independent Palestinian committee, composed of professionals and technocrats, to oversee Gaza's administration for six months before full control is handed to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed on Tuesday at the summit that the PA was prepared to take charge of Gaza's governance and had already formed a working committee to facilitate the transition. Under the proposed framework, the PA's security apparatus would be restructured and trained in Egypt and Jordan to ensure stability in the post-war period.
The summit saw strong support from Arab leaders, who reiterated their commitment to a two-state solution and rejected any form of displacement.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit described the summit as a decisive moment for the Palestinian cause, warning that continued occupation would "only bring temporary and fragile stability".
Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa urged Arab states to fully back the Egyptian-led initiative, warning that lasting peace was the only way to ensure Palestinian rights.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called for guarantees to prevent further cycles of war, reiterating Saudi Arabia's support for a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah denounced the forced displacement of Palestinians as ethnic cleansing and called for a unified Arab stance to ensure legal action that would hold Israel accountable for rebuilding Gaza.
Jordan's King Abdullah II supported the Egyptian initiative, stating that the plan would be presented to international partners to rally financial and political backing, according to a royal court statement. He condemned restrictions on humanitarian aid and warned against escalating violence in the West Bank.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi said that "Palestinian land is not up for negotiation", rejecting any attempts to strip Palestinians of their rights and displace them from their homes.
International leaders echoed Arab calls for Gaza's reconstruction and the preservation of its territorial integrity, while urging the resumption of ceasefire negotiations to prevent further escalation in the region.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he "strongly endorsed" the plan presented at the summit, stressing that the UN is "ready to fully cooperate in this endeavour".
"We must avoid at all costs the resumption of hostilities that would plunge millions back into an abyss of suffering and further destabilise the region," the UN chief added.
European Council President António Costa, speaking ahead of the meeting, said the summit was an important opportunity to "give hope to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and abroad" and to work towards ending the suffering of the past year and a half. He reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to supporting peace efforts in the Middle East and backing a two-state solution.
