In a significant move underscoring regional solidarity, Egypt is set to host an emergency Arab summit on February 27th in Cairo. This gathering aims to address pressing developments concerning the Palestinian cause, amidst a rare united front from the Arab League advocating for the two-state solution as a focal point in their diplomatic framework. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the seriousness of the situation, framing the summit as a critical response to recent geopolitical tensions.
In a statement, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi highlighted the injustice of any displacement plan, asserting that Egypt cannot participate in proposals undermining Palestinian sovereignty. His remarks resonate with the broader Arab disapproval of a recently unveiled US proposal from former President Donald Trump, which suggested US control over Gaza and the relocation of Palestinians to neighboring Arab nations—a plan both controversial and widely condemned.
The decision to hold the summit was made following consultations with key Arab leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Coordination with Bahrain, the current president of the Arab Summit, and the League of Arab States’ General Secretariat, further solidified the collaborative approach. The summit highlights a pivotal moment for Arab leadership, with multiple specialists and diplomats calling for delegating Egypt and Saudi Arabia to communicate and stand for the resolutions adopted by all the members.
This move comes in the wake of an Arab ministerial meeting in Cairo earlier this month, where leaders reiterated their rejection of any proposals threatening Palestinian displacement. They expressed a commitment to work with the new US administration towards a peaceful resolution grounded in the two-state solution, maintaining borders established before June 4, 1967.
Trump’s contentious plan, described by him as transforming Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” had faced immediate backlash, prompting him to remark that he was in “no rush” to advance the initiative. Experts like Dr. H.A. Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that the Arab League’s rare unified agreement marks a critical diplomatic victory, signaling a strong regional stance against external pressures on Palestinian autonomy.
This summit not only reinforces the Arab League’s commitment to a just resolution but also tackles the pivotal core of the Middle Eastern dilemma for upholding the Palestinian cause as a non-negotiable priority. As the summit approaches, it is clear that not only the Governments but the citizens stand firm towards a just solution.
