Barran Press - agencies
Arab foreign ministers on Saturday categorically rejected the transfer of Palestinians from their land "under any circumstances or justifications." This unified stance directly opposes the recent suggestion by the US President that Egypt and Jordan should accept Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip.
In a joint statement issued following a meeting in Cairo, representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League emphasized that such a move would destabilize the region, exacerbate conflict, and undermine prospects for a lasting peace.
The statement reiterated the Arab world's unwavering support for Palestinian rights and condemned all attempts to compromise them, including settlement activities, land evictions, annexations, and any form of displacement.
While expressing their willingness to cooperate with the US administration to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution, the ministers reaffirmed this commitment.
The meeting follows the US President's recent suggestion that Egypt and Jordan should accept Palestinians from Gaza, which was described as a "demolition site" after 15 months of intense conflict. This suggestion drew widespread condemnation, with critics calling it tantamount to ethnic cleansing.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi promptly rejected this proposal, stating that Egypt would never facilitate the displacement of Gazans and that such an action would undoubtedly trigger widespread protests within the country.
The suggestion of Palestinian displacement has consistently been met with strong opposition from the Palestinian leadership and neighboring Arab states. Jordan, which already hosts a significant Palestinian population, and Egypt have both publicly rejected the US President's proposal.
The Arab ministers also welcomed Egypt's initiative to convene an international conference, in partnership with the United Nations, to address the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza following the devastating 15-month conflict. The date for this crucial conference has yet to be determined.