Riyadh: Saudi Arabia will host a crucial five-way Arab meeting on February 20 to discuss an Egyptian proposal aimed at rebuilding the Gaza Strip without displacing its Palestinian inhabitants, an Arab League official announced on Monday. The meeting will bring together representatives from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as stated by Hossan Zaki, the assistant secretary-general of the Arab League, during televised statements.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zaki mentioned the possibility of inviting Palestine to the meeting to discuss the general framework of the Egyptian proposal intended for presentation at the upcoming Arab summit. Earlier this month, Egypt announced plans to host an emergency Arab summit on February 27, following a contentious proposal by US President Donald Trump. Trump's plan involves taking over Gaza and resettling its Palestinian inhabitants, with ambitions to transform it into what he termed the 'Riviera of the Middle East.'
The participating countries aim to coordinate regarding the Egyptian proposals to be presented at the summit, Zaki explained. However, he noted logistical reasons related to the leaders' schedules might delay the planned Arab summit. Egypt is committed to ensuring a strong turnout of leaders to secure the summit's success.
The primary goal of the summit is to establish a unified Arab stance on the Palestinian issue, explicitly rejecting the displacement plan originally proposed by Israel and later adopted by the US administration. The summit seeks to articulate a comprehensive Arab alternative to counter the American proposal.
On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi confirmed that Egypt is preparing a comprehensive plan for Gaza's reconstruction without displacing Palestinians. Trump's resettlement plan has faced widespread rejection from the Arab world and other nations, who view it as an act of ethnic cleansing.
The controversial proposal emerged following a ceasefire agreement that took effect in Gaza on January 19, ending Israel's war, which resulted in approximately 48,300 Palestinian casualties, primarily among women and children, and left the region devastated.