Arab leaders adopted Egypt’s $53bn plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and rejected the forced displacement plan of Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan.
Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the emergency Arab Summit on Palestine in Cairo on Tuesday, where he reaffirmed his support for the rights of Palestinians.
“We look forward to uniting efforts, intensifying action and coordinating collectively with all our brothers to support the Palestinian people in achieving their full legitimate rights in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions,” Sheikh Tamim said in a post on X.
“Establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital is the foundation of stability and peace in the Middle East,” he added.
At the summit, Arab leaders adopted Egypt’s $53bn (about QAR 193bn) plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and rejected the forced displacement plan of Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, as put forth by U.S President Donald Trump last month.
The framework would take place over three phases, which would take up to five years to implement.
“Egypt is developing a comprehensive and integrated plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, without the displacement of the Palestinians. This shall begin with urgent relief operations and early recovery, leading to the reconstruction of the strip,” Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told the summit.
The summit’s final communique expressed the Arab leaders’ complete rejection of “any form of displacement of the Palestinian people” while warning that such attempts “would lead the region into a new phase of conflicts”.
The statement stressed that Israel, as the occupying power, must “comply with relevant international legitimacy resolutions, which reject any attempts to alter the demographic composition of Palestinian territory”.
Hamas welcomed the Arab leaders’ rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians and Israel’s settlement expansions.
“We value the words of leaders at the extraordinary Arab summit in Cairo, all of which affirmed the rejection of the occupation’s plans to displace our people, the rejection of annexation and settlement projects, and the support of human rights,” Hamas said on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.
Condemnation of blocking aid
Israel’s 15-month genocide has caused a dire humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, and killed more than 61,709 Palestinians, with thousands still trapped under the rubble.
Qatar, Egypt and the United States mediated a fragile ceasefire that came into effect on January 19 that is split into three phases, each lasting 42 days.
The first phase ended on Saturday, March 1. The following day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in a clear violation of the ceasefire deal that stipulated the unhindered entry of relief aid.
The decision came as two million Muslims in the Gaza Strip observe the fasting month of Ramadan in the middle of complete destruction and significant shortage of basic resources.
The Arab leaders at Cairo’s summit reiterated their condemnation of Israel’s decision, calling out the occupation’s weaponisation of starvation.
Israel has repeatedly stalled all efforts aimed at reaching a complete ceasefire by insisting on continuing its war while refusing to completely withdraw its forces from the blockaded territory.
