Potential Postponement of the Arab Emergency Summit in Egypt
The Arab League’s Assistant Secretary-General, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, has announced that the date for the Arab Emergency Summit scheduled to take place in Egypt on February 27 might be changed due to scheduling considerations of participating leaders.
Zaki emphasized in televised statements that Egypt’s primary concern is ensuring the attendance of as many leaders as possible to guarantee the summit’s success, with any potential postponement being purely for logistical reasons.
A Unified Arab Stance
Zaki clarified that the summit aims to articulate a strong, unified Arab position on the Palestinian issue, particularly in response to the Israeli deportation plan which has been adopted by the U.S. administration. He noted that the Egyptian proposal would be central to discussions, focusing on Gaza’s reconstruction by the Palestinians themselves, thereby providing job opportunities without the need for population displacement.
He stressed that the main goal of the summit is to support the Palestinian people and strengthen their resilience, culminating in the issuance of an official document reflecting this stance.
Trump’s Plan
Zaki stated that the Arab stance towards President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza would be fully articulated once formal dialogue with the American side begins. He underscored the importance of respecting the Palestinian people’s will and their right to self-determination. The critical question, he pointed out, is whether the American plan aims to depopulate Gaza or serves as a means to renegotiate the governance future of the region.
Palestinians reject the options proposed by the Israeli occupation, whether it’s imposing control over Gaza, appointing a governing entity, or evacuating its residents. The acceptable solution, Zaki emphasized, is for Palestinians to govern themselves until a comprehensive settlement is reached.
Hamas’s Position
Zaki noted that recent statements by Hamas indicating readiness to relinquish control of Gaza could open the door for a more stable phase and facilitate the passage of Arab proposals, ensuring that American ideas are not the only options on the table.
He also highlighted the severe financial straits faced by the Palestinian Authority due to the Israeli occupation, which has incapacitated it from performing basic security and administrative functions. The primary aim now, Zaki stated, is to restore trust in Palestinian governance and gradually enhance its capabilities, necessitating political and security support from Arab and international parties to assist the Palestinian Authority in its role.
This article reflects the dynamic and complex discussions surrounding the Arab Emergency Summit, with a focus on the logistical adjustments needed to ensure a significant turnout and a strong collective Arab response to regional issues.
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