Cairo: An emergency Arab summit commenced in Cairo, focusing on the urgent reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi presented a plan developed by Cairo aimed at rebuilding Gaza while ensuring its residents are not displaced. He also encouraged international and regional support for the initiative.

According to Anadolu Agency, the summit saw Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, current chair of the annual Arab summit, express strong opposition to the displacement of Palestinians. He emphasized support for the two-state solution and urged backing for Egypt's proposed reconstruction plan. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that peace in the region must not be jeopardized by unrealistic projects and firmly rejecting the idea of forcibly displacing the Palestinian people.

The summit, attended by various Arab leaders and officials, is anticipated to endorse the Egyptian plan for Gaza's reconstruction. This move is part of efforts to counter US proposals, which suggest displacing Gaza's population to transform the area into a tourist destination, a plan that has been widely rejected by the Arab world and other nations as amounting to ethnic cleansing.

In the backdrop of these discussions, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire. Since October 2023, nearly 48,400 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed, and over 111,000 others injured in a severe Israeli assault. The violence paused following a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement implemented on January 19.

Further complicating the issue, last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel additionally faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice relating to its actions in the enclave.