Emergency Arab Summit in Cairo to discuss Gaza, Trump's proposal

Hamas issued a statement following the final declaration released after Cairo’s Extraordinary Arab Summit on Palestine, where Arab leaders met to discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

Hamas said it “welcomed the convening [of Arab leaders]…to discuss the dangers facing the Palestinian cause amid the ongoing Zionist aggression and the policies of ethnic cleansing and displacement targeting our people in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.

“The summit marks a significant step toward a unified Arab and Islamic alignment in support of the just Palestinian cause,” the statement said.

“We value the Arab position rejecting any attempts to uproot our people or erase our national cause under any pretext. This principled stance sends a historic message: the Palestinian Nakba will not be repeated. Backed by a united Arab position, our people are determined to thwart these conspiracies,” it added.

It praised the Gaza reconstruction plan adopted in the summit’s final statement, and commended Egypt for preparing an international conference on Gaza’s reconstruction.

Egypt hosted today an Extraordinary Arab Summit to discuss the critical developments in Gaza and the West Bank, after which a final declaration was released.

Key statements:

• “Peace is the Arabs’ Strategic Choice”: The summit reaffirmed that peace remains the strategic choice for Arab nations, based on the two-state solution.
• “Ceasefire as a Priority”: The statement stressed the urgency of fully enforcing the Gaza truce, which continues to face serious challenges.
• “International Engagement”: The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee will coordinate efforts to present the plan to the international community.
• “Call for UN Peacekeeping Forces”: The summit urged the UN Security Council to deploy international peacekeeping forces in the West Bank and Gaza.
• “Opposition to Forced Displacement”: Arab leaders emphasized the need for a viable alternative to the forced displacement of the Palestinian people.

Below is the full text of Final Communiqué:

We, the leaders of Arab states, recognize the grave and critical phase our region is experiencing, particularly regarding the Palestinian issue, which remains central to the Arab world and to all nations and peoples committed to peace, justice, rights, and freedom. Affirming our unity in defending all Palestinian rights and continuing our support to end the historical injustice imposed upon the Palestinian people as a means to achieve just peace, we acknowledge and honor the Palestinian people’s extraordinary resilience over the past 15 months in the face of aggression and inhumane policies.

Recalling the resolutions of the Arab Summit held in Manama on May 16, 2024, and the "Bahrain Declaration," which emphasized our commitment to tolerance, coexistence, mutual respect among nations and peoples, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and the promotion of global peace and stability, we reaffirm our call for the deployment of a United Nations international protection and peacekeeping force in the occupied Palestinian territories until the implementation of the two-state solution. Committed to solidarity and collective action in addressing exceptional challenges, we convened in Cairo on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in coordination with the presidency of the 33rd regular session of the Arab League Summit (the Kingdom of Bahrain), and at the request of the State of Palestine, to discuss the recent critical developments concerning the Palestinian cause.

Honoring the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their commitment to their land, particularly following the historic return of Gaza residents to their homes in the northern sector after the announcement of the implementation of a ceasefire agreement, we pledge to continue implementing all previous resolutions adopted by the Arab League at the summit level regarding the Palestinian issue.

Accordingly, we determined the following:

1. Reaffirming our strategic choice for achieving a just and comprehensive peace that fulfills all Palestinian rights, particularly the right to freedom and an independent, sovereign state based on the two-state solution, with the right of return for Palestinian refugees. This peace must ensure security for all peoples and states in the region, including Israel, in accordance with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which upholds Arab commitments to resolving all conflicts in the region through peaceful coexistence and cooperation. We reject all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism that threaten security and stability and contradict humanitarian values and international law.

2. Intensifying cooperation with international and regional powers, including the United States, to achieve comprehensive and just peace in the region. We express our readiness for immediate engagement with the U.S. administration and all international partners to resume peace negotiations aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a sovereign Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. We call for an international conference to facilitate the establishment of a Palestinian state.

3. Rejecting any form of Palestinian displacement, whether within or beyond their land, under any pretext or justification. We regard such acts as severe violations of international law and crimes against humanity amounting to ethnic cleansing. We condemn policies of starvation and scorched-earth tactics aimed at forcing Palestinians from their land and emphasize Israel’s obligation as an occupying power to abide by international legal rulings prohibiting demographic changes in the Palestinian territories.

4. Condemning Israel’s recent decision to halt humanitarian aid to Gaza and close border crossings used for relief operations. Such measures violate the ceasefire agreement and international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. We reject Israel's use of siege and starvation as political weapons.

5. Warning that any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians or annex occupied land will plunge the region into new conflicts, destabilize the region, and broaden the scope of hostilities. This would pose a direct threat to the foundations of Middle East peace and eliminate prospects for coexistence. We acknowledge the crucial role of Jordan and Egypt in countering the threats of displacement and the eradication of the Palestinian cause.

6. Approving Egypt’s comprehensive recovery and reconstruction plan for Gaza, developed in coordination with Palestine and other Arab nations, and based on studies by the World Bank and the UN Development Program. We call for full financial, material, and political support for this plan and urge international donors to contribute while ensuring parallel efforts to establish a permanent political framework for a just resolution to the Palestinian issue.

7. Prioritizing the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including its second and third phases, and ensuring all parties, particularly Israel, adhere to their commitments. This includes a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, including the Philadelphi Corridor, and guaranteeing the immediate and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid across the territory. We recognize the role played by the U.S. administration, Egypt, and Qatar in facilitating the ceasefire and hostage releases and urge further collaboration with the U.S. to implement a comprehensive roadmap for the Arab Peace Initiative.

8. Welcoming an international conference in Cairo at the earliest opportunity to support Gaza's recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with Palestine and the United Nations. We urge global participation to expedite rehabilitation efforts and propose the establishment of a trust fund for financial pledges to facilitate reconstruction projects.

9. Coordinating within the Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee to conduct international diplomatic efforts explaining the Arab reconstruction plan for Gaza and reaffirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. We mandate Arab foreign ministers to mobilize diplomatic action at the UN and with key international stakeholders to counter efforts to dismantle the Palestinian cause and advocate for Israel’s withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories, including Syria and Lebanon.

10. Supporting Palestine’s decision to form an interim Gaza administration under the Palestinian government, composed of competent Gaza-based officials, as a transitional step towards reinstating the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. We acknowledge Jordan and Egypt’s proposal to train Palestinian security forces to ensure law enforcement in Gaza under a unified Palestinian administration.

11. Calling on the UN Security Council to deploy international peacekeeping forces in the West Bank and Gaza to safeguard security for Palestinians and Israelis while advancing the prospects of Palestinian statehood.

12. Reaffirming support for UNRWA's indispensable role and calling on the international community to sustain its financial and political backing to prevent any attempts to dismantle or undermine the agency's mandate.

13. Demanding an end to Israeli aggression in the West Bank, including settlement expansion, home demolitions, land confiscation, military raids, and violations of religious sites. We categorically reject any attempts to internally displace Palestinians.

14. Endorsing the international legal pursuit of Israeli accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people, and supporting global legal actions to hold Israeli officials accountable.

15. Assigning the Arab League Secretary-General to oversee the implementation of these resolutions and report on progress at the next Arab Summit.

16. Expressing our gratitude to the Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting this extraordinary summit, held in coordination with the Kingdom of Bahrain and at the request of the State of Palestine.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa described Syria’s return to the Arab League as a historic moment, reaffirming the country's commitment to Arab causes. He emphasized that Syria has always been and remains one of the strongest supporters of Arab rights.

Al-Sharaa condemned calls for the forced displacement of Palestinians, calling them a stain on humanity and a threat to the entire Arab world that must be firmly confronted.

He warned that the ongoing events in Gaza should serve as a wake-up call for all, stressing the Palestinian people’s right to return and determine their own future.

Al-Sharaa also denounced “Israeli” violations against the Syrian people, cautioning that leniency in addressing them could lead to further threats. He called on parties to exert pressure on “Israeli” to withdraw their troops from Syrian territory.

He reaffirmed Syria’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation and justice, in remarks delivered at the Extraordinary Arab Summit in Cairo.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told an Arab League summit on Gaza's reconstruction on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump could help achieve peace in the Middle East.

Sisi mentioned the historic, US-brokered 1979 peace agreement between Egypt and “Israel”, saying it had transformed "enmity, war and the desire for revenge into lasting peace and reciprocal diplomatic relations.

“The time has come to adopt and launch a serious and effective political process that leads to a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause... I am confident that President Trump is capable of doing that."

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said in the Emergency Arab Summit in Egypt that "Lebanon’s wars have taught me, brothers, that the Palestinian dimension of Palestine’s cause requires us to always stand with its people—both in principle and in action."

The president underscored Lebanon’s historical stance, declaring, "Lebanon has first taught me that Palestine is a cause of justice. And justice always requires strength." He elaborated, "Strength in the struggles of nations is found in the power of logic, the power of stance, the power to persuade the world, the power to rally public opinion, and the power of comprehensive balances of power."

Highlighting Palestine’s significance, Aoun added, "Lebanon has also taught me that Palestine is a threefold cause: a national Palestinian right, an Arab national right, and a universal human right. The more we succeed in showcasing these noble dimensions, the more we support Palestine and triumph with it."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed key issues facing the Palestinian cause, stating, "We are facing serious challenges that threaten our cause." He also praised regional efforts, saying, "We commend the Egyptian-Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza."

Abbas outlined the Palestinian Authority's (PA) vision for governance in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing, "Palestine will assume its responsibilities in Gaza through its governmental institutions after restructuring and training its personnel." He further stressed the security aspect, noting, "Our vision is for the PA to take charge in Gaza, with a unified security apparatus ensuring the Strip's stability."

Regarding future political developments, Abbas reaffirmed, "We are ready to hold general elections if conditions allow." He also announced a structural change within the PLO, declaring, "We have decided to establish the position of Deputy Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization."

King Abdullah II reaffirmed Jordan’s steadfast commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and providing aid to Gaza, stressing the need to maintain stability and prevent further escalation in the region.

“We must reaffirm our rejection of displacement and emphasize our support for Gaza’s reconstruction plan,” the King stated during the emergency Arab summit in Cairo. He underscored Jordan’s ongoing efforts to assist Palestinians, adding, “Jordan will continue to make every effort to support the resilience of our Palestinian brothers and provide assistance to Gaza.”

The King also called for international action to address the worsening crisis in the West Bank, warning that “the dangerous escalation in the West Bank must be stopped to prevent further deterioration of the situation.” He further emphasized the importance of sustaining the ceasefire in Gaza, ensuring the implementation of all its phases, and backing Palestinian Authority reforms that serve the interests of the Palestinian people.

Additionally, King Abdullah strongly condemned Israel’s decision to restrict humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. “We firmly reject Israel’s decision to prevent aid from reaching Gaza,” he said, vowing that Jordan will continue its humanitarian efforts despite the challenges.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the ongoing "Israeli" military operations in Gaza, stating that they have reached an unprecedented level of destruction and death.

He emphasized the severe suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and warned of the risks of further devastation if the aggression continues.

Guterres called for all efforts to prevent the resumption of fighting, urging both sides to release detainees and captives. He also stressed that Gaza should be an integral part of a future Palestinian state, without any territorial divisions.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit stated that the reconstruction of Gaza is possible if a ceasefire is established and Israeli Occupation withdraws from the region. Speaking at the emergency Arab summit in Cairo, Aboul Gheit emphasized that real peace in the region can only be achieved through a two-state solution, which remains the strategic choice for Arabs.

He highlighted that achieving a just peace requires clear international commitment to establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Aboul Gheit reiterated that the ongoing escalation in Palestinian territories underscores the need for a comprehensive political solution and reaffirmed that Arab nations are steadfast in their commitment to peace as the path to regional security and stability.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized the significance of Jerusalem, describing it not just as a city, but as a symbol of identity and a core issue for the Arab world. He also highlighted Egypt's efforts in training Palestinian security personnel who will be responsible for maintaining security in Gaza.

Furthermore, President El-Sisi added that the US President Donald Trump has the ability to bring an end to the ongoing tensions in the region.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized his country's unwavering commitment to the legitimate causes of the Arab world.

He stressed that the region is facing significant challenges that threaten its security and stability.

The president also condemned the ongoing war in Gaza, stating that it aims to forcibly displace the population of the Strip but the Palestinian people exemplified unwavering determination and resilience in holding onto their land.

The King of Bahrain stated that lasting peace is the essential framework to guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people.

He also welcomed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Arab Summit.

The Emergency Arab Summit has commenced in Cairo to discuss the Gaza reconstruction plan and developments related to the Palestinian situation.

King Abdullah II has arrived at the venue of the Emergency Arab Summit in Cairo to discuss regional developments and Arab issues.

Delegations participating in the Emergency Arab Summit have begun arriving at the summit venue in Cairo.

King Abdullah II departs for Cairo to lead Jordan's delegation at the emergency Arab summit on Gaza and West Bank development.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Tuesday during the ongoing emergency Arab summit in Cairo.

The two leaders discussed the latest developments in Palestinian territories. President Abbas reaffirmed that Gaza is an integral part of Palestine, which retains full political and legal authority over it, just like the rest of Palestinian land. He added that plans have been set in motion to provide essential services to return displaced citizens to their homes, paving the way for reconstruction with support from global allies.

The meeting emphasized prioritizing the reinforcement of the ceasefire, providing humanitarian aid, and ensuring the complete withdrawal of Israeli Occupation Forces, while calling for the Palestinian Authority to assume full control in Gaza. The leaders also highlighted the need to halt all unilateral actions, including settlement expansion and attempts to annex Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

President Abbas stressed the international community's responsibility, particularly the United Nations and the UN Security Council, to hold Israeli Occupation accountable for its ongoing aggression, illegal settlement activities, and violations of international law.

He expressed his pride in the long-standing historical relations between the two nations and his commitment to further strengthening them.

The meeting was attended by Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee Secretary Hussein al-Sheikh, Presidential Advisor for Diplomatic Affairs Majdi Khalidi, and Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has arrived at the venue of the emergency Arab Summit in Cairo, where leaders will discuss plans for Gaza's reconstruction.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is representing the Kingdom at the emergency Arab Summit in Cairo on Gaza, marking the absence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported: "On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud... Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Cairo today to lead the Kingdom’s delegation at the extraordinary Arab Summit."

On Feb. 5, US President Donald Trump proposed taking control of Gaza, resettling Palestinians in Egypt and Jordan, and turning Gaza into "the Riviera of the Middle East."

Egypt and Jordan rejected the idea, vowing to present a plan for Gaza’s reconstruction while keeping Palestinians in their home.

On Feb. 21, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries met in Riyadh to prepare the summit’s agenda.

The draft final statement of the Arab Summit, set to take place today (Tuesday) in Cairo, has adopted the Egyptian plan for Gaza’s future and called on the international community and financial institutions to provide swift support for its implementation, according to Reuters.

The statement also welcomed an international conference in Cairo later this month focused on Gaza’s reconstruction. Additionally, Arab leaders called for elections across all Palestinian territories within one year, provided the necessary conditions are met.

The Egyptian Plan

Egyptian state media reported details of Cairo’s reconstruction plan for Gaza, which will be presented to Arab leaders at the summit. The plan emphasizes protecting Palestinian rights and dignity, as well as a two-state solution.

Key elements of the plan include establishing an independent, non-partisan technocratic committee to manage Gaza for a transitional period of six months under the Palestinian government’s umbrella. The plan also outlines efforts by Egypt and Jordan to train Palestinian security forces in preparation for deployment in Gaza.

The proposal condemns civilian deaths and unprecedented levels of violence in Gaza, stressing that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of Palestinian land. It calls for preserving the ceasefire, highlighting that any breakdown would obstruct humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts.

Furthermore, the plan urges the international community to support Egypt, Qatar, and the US in stabilizing the ceasefire. It also suggests a phased approach to securing Palestinian sovereignty and reconnecting Gaza with the West Bank.

The plan raises the possibility of an international peacekeeping force in Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank, as part of a broader strategy to establish a Palestinian state. It also proposes a medium-term truce between Israeli Occupation and the Palestinian Authority, serving as a transitional period for confidence-building measures and halting unilateral actions.

As Arab leaders gather in Cairo, Egypt is expected to push forward its comprehensive plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, aiming to prevent any forced displacement and ensure a sustainable resolution to the crisis.