Arab countries to meet following developments in Palestine: They will hold an emergency summit

Following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a plan to occupy Gaza, Egypt has announced that it will hold an emergency Arab summit on February 27. It was reported that the latest developments regarding the Palestinian issue will be addressed at the summit. It was stated that Arab countries will exchange views on the US plan to occupy Gaza and Trump's idea of exiling the Palestinians.

A written statement regarding the matter was issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement noted that the summit to be held in Cairo on February 27 will be carried out in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Arab League and the Kingdom of Bahrain, the current chair of the summit.

It was reported that the decision to hold the summit was taken following consultations and meetings held by Egypt at the highest level with Arab countries in recent days, including Palestine, which requested the summit to address new and serious developments in the Palestinian issue. The statement expressed that the summit will provide an opportunity to address extremely important and urgent developments regarding the Palestinian issue.

During a joint press conference held last week following the meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced that he would turn Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East." The US President added that all Palestinians living in Gaza would be exiled.

EGYPT'S REACTION TO ISRAEL

Egypt has opposed Israel's attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023. Having previously objected to the exile of Palestinians to Egypt, the country most recently reacted to Netanyahu's statement that "Saudi Arabia could establish a Palestinian state on its own territory if it wants one."

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the following in its written statement on the subject:

"Egypt has condemned in the strongest terms the irresponsible and completely unacceptable statements by the Israeli side against Saudi Arabia, which call for the establishment of a Palestinian state on its territory, directly violate the country's sovereignty, and clearly breach the rules of international law and the United Nations Charter."

The statement said, 'Respect for Saudi Arabia and its sovereignty is a red line; Cairo will not allow this to be touched.' The Ministry also emphasized that the security and stability of Saudi Arabia are 'at the very center of the stability of Egypt and Arab countries' and that there can be no question of devaluing this in any way.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, speaking to the Arab press, opposed the annexation of Gaza by the US or Israel and stated the following:

"Any vision for the post-war period in Gaza must be within the framework of ensuring unity in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and must include the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip."

Emphasizing that Palestinians in Gaza must remain on their land during the reconstruction process, Abdelatty stated that the Palestinian people must regain their legitimate rights, primarily the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the 1967 borders.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty

News Source: AA