Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Cairo, marking their first meeting since regime changes in Syria. Discussions focused on Gaza’s reconstruction and resistance to U.S. proposals. They highlighted concerns about Israeli settlement expansion and its impact on potential Palestinian statehood while emphasizing the importance of Gaza as part of Palestinian territory.
In a significant diplomatic encounter, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Cairo, marking their first interaction since the regime change in Syria last December. Their discussions emerged during an emergency Arab summit that aimed to address the reconstruction of Gaza and resist U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal, which advocates for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
The two leaders focused on current issues impacting the occupied West Bank, emphasizing that the Gaza Strip is a crucial aspect of Palestinian territory. Abbas reiterated the importance of maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza, facilitating humanitarian aid, and pushing for Israeli forces to withdraw from the region, as reported by the Palestine News Agency.
Both Abbas and Al-Sharaa condemned Israeli actions that threaten Palestinian autonomy, including settlement expansions in the West Bank and the forced relocation of Palestinians from refugee camps. Such developments risk undermining the foundational objectives of establishing a sovereign Palestinian state.
Since the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime, Israeli forces have moved into parts of southern Syria, including the strategically vital Mount Hermon area, disrupting established agreements of the past decades. This shift intensifies the complexities surrounding territorial integrity in the region.
Accompanying Abbas and Al-Sharaa at the meeting were Hussein Al-Sheikh, the secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Diab Al-Louh, the Palestinian ambassador to Egypt, further indicating the collective approach to these pressing territorial and humanitarian issues.
The meeting between Abbas and Al-Sharaa signifies a crucial diplomatic step in addressing Palestinian interests amidst ongoing regional tensions. Their commitment to cooperative measures against Israeli policies demonstrates a unified stand on territorial integrity and humanitarian needs in Gaza. This interaction reflects the broader Arab sentiment of solidarity in rebuilding and supporting Palestine amid external pressures that threaten its sovereignty.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
