Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman convenes leaders of Gulf nations, Jordan, and Egypt to discuss regional cooperation and the upcoming Arab summit.
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman will hold an informal meeting with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt on February 21 in Riyadh.
This meeting follows an invitation from the Crown Prince and is part of a series of fraternal discussions that have established long-standing ties among these leaders, aimed at enhancing cooperation between the involved nations.
On the agenda are matters related to Arab joint efforts, particularly decisions and strategies leading up to an emergency Arab summit scheduled to be held in Cairo on March 4. This summit aims to discuss plans for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, specifically addressing the need to rebuild without displacing its Palestinian inhabitants.
The meeting was initially planned for February 27 but was postponed to ensure logistical readiness, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, which coordinated the new date with Bahrain, the current chair of the Arab League.
The reconstruction discussions emerge in the context of recent conflict in Gaza, where a ceasefire, effective since January 19, has brought an end to violence that resulted in the deaths of approximately 48,300 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.
The devastation has raised significant concerns within the international community about humanitarian conditions in the enclave.
Egypt has announced it is preparing a comprehensive plan for Gaza's reconstruction that will ensure the rights of Palestinians to remain on their land, in stark opposition to proposals from the United States that include resettling its population.
US President
Donald Trump had previously suggested a vision for Gaza that involved relocating its inhabitants as part of a broader plan to develop the region.
This proposal has drawn widespread condemnation from Arab leaders and raised concerns regarding potential violations of international law regarding forced displacement.
The United Nations has labeled any forced relocation as illegal and equivalent to ethnic cleansing.
Recent discussions among Arab foreign ministers in Cairo reiterated opposition to any relocation plans and emphasized the importance of adhering to the ceasefire agreements while ensuring the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s residents.
International attention remains focused on the need for a sustainable two-state solution to address the Palestinian issue.
Saudi Arabia, a significant player within the regional context, has publicly rejected any proposals that involve the forced displacement of Palestinians.
The Kingdom has stated its commitment to a two-state solution, asserting that aspirations for normalization with Israel cannot be met without addressing the Palestinian statehood issue.
Riyadh has condemned the ongoing targeting of civilians in Gaza and reiterated its support for international resolutions aiming for a just solution, including the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.