Saudi Arabia will host a summit on February 20, 2025, with leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE to discuss President Trump’s Gaza takeover proposal. Palestinian President Abbas is also expected to attend. The proposal has sparked outrage, with concerns of displacement reminiscent of historical tragedies faced by Palestinians. Amidst U.S. pressure, regional leaders intend to propose alternatives to Trump’s plan and reinforce their united stance on the issue.
Saudi Arabia will host a summit on February 20, 2025, to discuss President Trump’s controversial proposal regarding Gaza. Leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are confirmed attendees. This summit precedes an Arab League meeting scheduled for a week later, focusing on the same issue.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas is also anticipated to attend. Trump’s plan, which suggests a U.S. takeover of Gaza and mass displacement of Palestinian residents to Egypt or Jordan, has faced widespread condemnation from Arab nations who unite in opposition.
Historically, such displacement invokes painful memories of the Nakba, the catastrophe marking the displacement of Palestinians in 1948. Despite this backlash, Trump has indicated possible repercussions, including cuts in aid to Jordan and Egypt if they reject his proposal.
Jordan currently hosts over two million Palestinians, comprising a significant portion of its 11 million total population. In a contrasting move, Egypt has proposed a reconstruction plan that allows Palestinians to remain in Gaza.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. remains open to new ideas from Arab nations but insists that the Trump plan is currently the only actionable proposal, despite its unpopularity among those nations. This claim follows prior discussions from Antony Blinken about the necessity of Israel recognizing a Palestinian state to facilitate peace.
Rubio, en route to Europe, is set to meet with various global leaders, including those in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, to discuss the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Meanwhile, Trump expressed intentions to potentially meet with Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine’s conflict.
Saudi Arabia welcomes the opportunity to host the summit, underscoring its growing diplomatic influence in the region. Analysts emphasize Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting Egypt and Jordan against U.S. pressure regarding displacement, including potential economic aid if U.S. support wanes.
The summit’s objective aims to establish alternative frameworks for addressing displacement concerns. It will involve input from mediating governments like Qatar and Egypt, reflecting a collaborative Arab stance towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The upcoming summit in Saudi Arabia represents a critical diplomatic effort by Arab leaders to address the contentious proposals surrounding the future of Gaza. With significant attendance from regional leaders and Palestinian representation, the focus will likely center on creating alternatives to Trump’s plan. The meeting underscores the Arab nations’ unified stance against forced displacement and highlights Saudi Arabia’s increasing role in shaping dialogue over the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
