Aqaba summit firmly rejects Palestinian displacement and Gaza reoccupation

Ahram Online , Wednesday 10 Jan 2024

During their summit on Wednesday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas firmly rejected any attempt to displace Palestinians from Gaza or an Israeli reoccupation of the strip.

Aqaba
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pose for an image During their summit on Wednesday 10 January, 2024. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Presidential spokesman.

 

The three leaders agreed on "the unequivocal and categorical rejection of any endeavors, attempts or proposals that aim to liquidate the Palestinian issue or forcibly displace the Palestinian people outside their land," according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency.

They also absolutely dismissed any attempts (by Israel) to reoccupy parts of Gaza, reiterating the imperative that residents be allowed to return to their homes.

They stressed it is vital the international community assume its responsibility for the implementation of the relevant international resolutions, primarily the UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.

The three leaders also rejected any attempts to politically separate Gaza from the West Bank.

Concerns were raised during the summit about the danger of Israeli aggression in the West Bank, including against religious sites, which could escalate tensions in the region and lead to the situation spiraling out of control.

They reiterated their full support for the Palestinian National Authority in carrying out its duties to protect the Palestinian people in all its territories.

The three leaders underlined that the sole guarantor of stability in the region and protection against the expansion of conflict lies in a fair and comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian issue, including the establishment and recognition of the Palestinian state on the borders of 4 June, 1967, with its capital in East Jerusalem.

During the meeting, El-Sisi highlighted Egypt's commitment to providing, coordinating, and delivering humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip. This effort has resulted in the delivery of thousands of tons of fuel and relief materials, as well as the treatment of a large number of injured individuals Egyptian hospitals.

However, he stressed that what has been provided is not sufficient to protect the people of the Gaza Strip from the humanitarian catastrophe they are experiencing.

This situation requires a decisive stance from the international community to push for a ceasefire, which is the only way to save the people of Gaza and ease tension in the region, he said

The summit was held just hours after Abbas met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Ramallah where they discussed what role the Palestinian Authority would play in postwar Gaza as well as governance reforms in the authority itself.

Blinken met with Abdullah on Sunday and is slated to meet El-Sisi in Cairo on Thursday with a focus on Gaza.

According to the Associated Press, an Israeli delegation landed in Cairo on Wednesday for a new round of talks with Egypt on a possible swap of captives held by Hamas for Palestinians detainees by Israel, an anonymous Egyptian official said.

Sisi met with met with Abbas in Cairo on Monday where they discussed ways of ending the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.

Two weeks ago, El-Sisi also held a summit meeting with Abdullah in Cairo where they also tackled the humanitarian situation in the besieged strip.

Short link: