Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula. In the Summit, President Al Sisi emphasized that the only viable solution is establishing an independent state for the Palestinians.
The summit commenced with the crossing of 20 trucks carrying aid through the Rafah border. However, humanitarian organizations have cautioned that this aid will not be sufficient to address the pressing needs in Gaza. Further, the first aid convoy entered Gaza following two weeks of war. Before the conflict, about 500 trucks per day were entering Gaza, and the UN reports that 1.2 million people in the territory already relied on food aid. The UN will oversee the distribution of the aid, with a significant portion expected to be sent to UN schools and hospitals where many have sought refuge.
Notably, one of the trucks in the convoy was carrying coffins. Following the convoy’s entry, US President Joe Biden expressed his gratitude to Egypt, Israel, and the UN for facilitating the delivery of aid, pledging to work with all parties to maintain the operation of the Rafah crossing for the continued movement of essential assistance to the people of Gaza. The Israeli military specified that the aid was intended for southern Gaza only and urged residents in the northern Gaza Strip to relocate south of Wadi Gaza. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas.
During his speech at the “Summit for Peace” in Cairo, President Sisi affirmed that Egypt would not permit the forced displacement of Palestinians into Egypt via the Rafah crossing. Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud supported President Sisi’s stance, while Mahmoud Abbas, Head of the Palestinian Authority, emphasized that Palestinians would not accept relocation and would remain on their land.
The summit concluded without a joint statement, with no Israeli or senior US officials in attendance, and notable differences between Arab and European countries. Arab diplomats, speaking anonymously, reported that European delegates called for a clear condemnation of Hamas and its responsibility for the escalation, but Arab leaders rejected this demand.
Egypt subsequently released a statement, approved by Arab delegations, criticizing world leaders for managing the conflict rather than seeking a permanent resolution. Egypt and other Arab states have previously expressed their opposition to an influx of Palestinian refugees, as it would amount to the expulsion of Palestinians from their land. King Abdullah of Jordan criticized the global silence regarding Israel’s attacks on Gaza, stating that it conveyed a disregard for Palestinian lives. UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly addressed the summit, conveying his communication with the Israeli government regarding its obligation to uphold international law and protect civilian lives in Gaza. He emphasized the need for discipline, professionalism, and restraint from the Israeli military.
Cleverly also stressed the importance of international efforts to prevent the situation in Gaza from escalating into a regional conflict. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” during his address at the summit, urging global action to end the ongoing nightmare in Gaza and ensure a continuous delivery of aid to meet the Palestinians’ urgent needs. The conflict between Israel and Gaza began with Israeli retaliatory air strikes following an attack by Hamas’s military wing on Israel on October 7.
The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people, including many in their homes in kibbutzes near Gaza and attendees at a nearby music festival. Israel claims that over 300 soldiers were also killed in the attack, and Hamas took more than 200 hostages into Gaza. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 4,300 people, with more than half of the casualties being women and children.
