A Two-State Solution
The Cairo Peace Summit held on the 21/10/2023 marked the gathering of 34 countries and most eminent International Organizations who gathered to seek discuss the current escalations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and the future in light of the current conflict.
Speakers stated their stands on the current conflict, with a western stand in support of Israel’s retaliation “In light of the International Humanitarian laws for protecting Civilians” and the agreement towards the need for aid support to Palestinians in Gaza. On the other hand, others regarded the solution in sending aid to Gaza, Ceasing fire, mutual hostages exchange and proceeding with an international commitment towards a Two-state Solution as it has proven over time that this case is no longer a Middle Eastern case, it is an International case that needs an eminent and just solution for true peace and stability in the world today. Followed are selected statements from some of the World’s leaders at the Summit.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez asserted that the Cairo Peace Summit represents the first step on the Middle East peace process path. He lauded the efforts exerted to hold the summit to stave off further escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, calling for an immediate ceasefire and supporting the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the importance of Hamas’ unconditional release of hostages of different nationalities. Further more, Sánchez stressed the importance of realizing peace between the Palestinian and Israeli sides under the two-state solution, urging the international community to shoulder its responsibility.
President of the Libyan Presidential Council (LPS) Mohamed al Menfi asserted that Libya is standing by Egypt and all Arab countries in face of any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause. He underscored the significance of reviving the peace process in order to reach a just and effective solution to the Palestinian issues.
Jordanian King Abdullah II said the relentless bombing campaign underway in Gaza is cruel and unconscionable on every level, describing it as collective punishment of a besieged and helpless population. “It is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. It is a war crime,” he said.
King Abdullah II added “Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water, electricity, and basic necessities would be condemned,”. He highlighted that the message the Arab world is hearing is loud and clear: Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones. “The application of international law is optional. And human rights have boundaries they stop at borders, they stop at races, they stop at religions,” the King added.
King Abullah warned that the consequences of continued international apathy and inaction will be catastrophic “on us all”. He reiterated his call for an immediate end to the war on Gaza, the protection of civilians, and the adoption of a unified position that indiscriminately condemns the targeting of all civilians, “in line with our shared values and international law, which loses all value if it is implemented selectively”. He stressed the need for sustained and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid, fuel, food, and medicine to the Gaza Strip.
King Abdullah reaffirmed the unequivocal rejection of the forced displacement or internal displacement of the Palestinians, describing that as a war crime according to international law, “and a red line for all of us”. “This conflict did not start two weeks ago, and it will not stop if we continue down this blood-soaked path,” he warned. Pointing to the absence of international accountability, he said when the bombs stop falling, Israel is never held accountable, the injustices of occupation continue and the world walks away, until the next round of violence. He said the Israeli leadership must realize that there is no military solution to its security concerns and that it cannot continue to sideline the five million Palestinians living under its occupation.
Israeli leadership, King Abdullah continued “The only path to a safe and secure future for the people of the Middle East and the entire world starts with the belief that every human life is of equal value and it ends with two states, Palestine and Israel, sharing land and peace from the river to the sea,” he concluded.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly lauded the Palestinian government’s stand on its desire for realizing peace and coexistence. Cleverly underlined the importance of intensifying efforts of the international community to ensure peaceful coexistence of the Palestinian-Israeli sides. He called for releasing hostages of both sides, urging the Israeli government to respect international law and protect civilians in Gaza. He called for working together to realize peace and avoid the outbreak of war in the region. He stressed the importance of ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the enclave and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has warned that the current crisis in Gaza could lead to a regional war “We are in the midst of a deep crisis,” Eide said, warning that “it threatens to become a crisis for the entire world.” He further added “We need to restart. We need to think outside the box. This is not the time to cut the support of the Palestinian authorities.”
The Israel-Palestine conflict requires a new guarantee mechanism, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, adding that Turkey will never allow the sufferings of Palestinians to continue, he added. He said that if Israeli attacks were to continue, these attacks would threaten global stability and peace with geographical escalation.
Saudi Arabia rejects “attempts at forced displacement” of the people of Gaza by Israel, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said, adding that the “tragic events” in Palestine require “immediate action” towards reaching a ceasefire, and affrmed that “Military escalation in Gaza must immediately stop,” he added. The FM also reiterated the Kingdom’s complete rejection of any party’s violation of humanitarian law, and called on the international community to obligate Israel to adhere to international law. He also said “We call for immediately opening safe passages to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza,” Prince Faisal said, adding that the Kingdom “stands with the Palestinian people to attain their rights.”
King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa stated that the Middle East will not enjoy stability without securing the rights of the Palestinians until reaching durable, comprehensive and just peace in the region. He underlined Bahrain’s steadfast stand on supporting the rights of the Palestinians for establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 border with Al Quds as its capital, underlining the urgent need for containing the dangerous crisis in the Gaza Strip in light of the terrible suffering of the Palestinians under unabated ferocious Israeli bombardment. Further more, He called for continued diplomatic efforts by all regional and international parties to halt the escalation, end the military operations and protect civilians. King Hamad stressed rejection of evacuating the Palestinians from their homeland and expressed confidence that the summit will come up with a fruitful outcome that would lead to peace and security. He said the summit underlined Egypt’s pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian cause and protecting Arab national security.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the international community to shoulder responsibility to protect the Palestinians, underlining the importance of halting the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and opening humanitarian corridors. Abbas said Israel violated international law by attacking civilians, especially hospitals and shelter centers. He warned of attempts of forced evacuation of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, asserting: “We won’t leave our lands.” The Palestinian president reiterated full rejection of killing civilians of both sides and called for releasing hostages, captives and all detainees in addition to commitment to the international legitimacy, and signed agreements and renouncing violence. He said peace and security will only be achieved by ending the Israeli occupation under the two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
The grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long, said United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Adding “We cannot and must not ignore the wider context for these tragic events: the long-standing conflict and 56 years of occupation with no end in sight,” the UN chief said. “Yesterday I went to the Rafah border crossing. There I saw a paradox — a humanitarian catastrophe playing out in real time. On the one hand, I saw hundreds of trucks teeming with food and other essential supplies, On the other hand, we know that just across the border, there are two million people without water, food, fuel, electricity and medicine. Those trucks need to move as quickly as possible in a massive, sustained and safe way from Egypt into Gaza, and I want to express my deep gratitude to Egypt in this regard.”
But the people of Gaza need a commitment for much, much more – a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed, Guterres said. We are working nonstop with all parties that are relevant to make it happen, he added. “But nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorized Israeli civilians. And those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” Guterres said. International humanitarian law – including the Geneva Conventions – must be upheld, he added. “That includes protecting civilians and not attacking hospitals, schools and UN premises that are currently sheltering half a million people.” He called for: “Immediate, unrestricted and sustained humanitarian aid for besieged civilians in Gaza.To advance all these efforts, I appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire now.” Adding that “As we focus on ending the bloodshed, we cannot lose sight of the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability: a two-State solution,” the UN chief said. “Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialized, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent State realized, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements. Stating that “The time has come for action. Action to end this godawful nightmare. Action to build a future worthy of the dreams of the children of Palestine, Israel, the region and our world.”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis condemned collective punishment of the Gaza Strip, calling on Israel to respect international law. Mitsotakis thanked President Abdel Fattah El Sisi for holding the summit to settle the Middle East crisis, adding that Egypt and Jordan bear heavy burdens towards the Palestinian cause, lauding their bravery and their outstanding efforts. He reiterated Greek’s steadfast stand on the Palestinian cause, stressing “we must stop bloodshed and the negative repercussions of the war”. He called for releasing hostages by both sides and offering non-stop humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and welcomed opening humanitarian corridors from Egypt to Gaza to extend urgently needed aid for civilians.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira slammed the vicious Israeli aggression against the Palestinians that threatens the two-state solution. Vieira said Israel is an occupation force and has to respect human rights under any conditions. He condemned the shelling of several hospitals in the Gaza Strip, leaving behind many health and humanitarian service providers injured, including doctors and nurses. He called on all parties to protect civilians and respect international law and international humanitarian law. He urged the United Nations Security Council to be strict in protecting civilians and respecting international law. He called for avoiding the conflict’s spinning out of control and spilling over the region, stressing the need for finding a way for political negotiations to reach comprehensive Middle East peace.
Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah called on the international community to take urgent action to put an immediate halt to Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip. Sheikh Meshal also called for providing international protection for the people of Palestine and opening safe aid delivery corridors into the strip. Such practices fly in the face of international law, he said, noting that the current humanitarian tragedy is a natural result of the international community’s failure to work for finding a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue. He also denounced the international community’s double standards that elevate Israeli lives over those of Palestinians. Kuwait also rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land, at the expense of neighboring countries, Sheikh Mishal said, reaffirming his country’s support for Palestinians’ right to have their own independent state based on the pre-1967 borders.
CAP PHOTO : A Picture by Sagda, a Jordanian who envisions Peace and return of Palestinians to a State of their own.