Arab leaders discuss Palestinian issue and Gaza developments
Leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain gathered in Riyadh to discuss the Palestinian issue and the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Described as a “consultative brotherly meeting,” the discussions reportedly focused on Gaza’s post-war reconstruction and regional strategies. Media reports suggest that the leaders sought to counter a recent proposal by former US President Donald Trump to relocate Palestinians from Gaza and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” a plan widely rejected by Arab nations, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Saudi foreign policy expert Umer Karim described the summit as “the most consequential in decades” for the Arab world and the Palestinian issue.
Trump’s remarks, which suggested the United States “take over the Gaza Strip” and relocate its 2.4 million residents to Egypt and Jordan, sparked global condemnation.
The meeting was hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and attended by Jordanian King Abdullah II, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The leaders also expressed their support for the upcoming emergency Arab League summit in Cairo on March 4, which will address the latest Palestinian developments.
The Gaza Strip remains devastated after more than a year of conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the United Nations estimating that rebuilding efforts will require over $53 billion.
