Aqaba Summit warns against safe zones, stresses Gazans right of return

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Jan 2024 23:04

The summit was attended by King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority.

Jordanian King Abdullah, Egypt President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stress the need to continue pushing for an end to the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the protection of civilians, during a summit held in Aqaba. (X, @RHCJO).

The Aqaba Summit held on Wednesday issued a "stern warning" against the establishment of safe zones in Gaza, noting that the Palestinian population deserves the right to return to their land and that the regime has no right to re-occupy parts of Gaza.

The summit, attended by King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, emphasized the critical need to facilitate the return of Gaza residents to their homes.

The concluding statement staunchly rejected any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause and underlined the unity of Gaza and the West Bank as integral parts of a single Palestinian state. It explicitly opposed Israeli plans to displace Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, noting the urgent requirement for international condemnation of such initiatives.

The summit participants further reiterated the necessity of sustained pressure to halt Israeli aggression in Gaza and safeguard the lives of innocent civilians.

This comes as external pressure mounts on the Israeli regime to cease its genocidal actions in Gaza, particularly in light of its failure to achieve its objectives of thwarting the resistance.

On another note, Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported on Tuesday that the one-on-one meeting held between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was described as "tense".

Washington is reportedly growing impatient, the broadcaster said, noting that Netanyahu's office refrained from issuing a customary statement following the meeting, fueling speculation about potential disagreements.

External pressures are combined with internal pressures, including those related to the families of Israeli captives who demand the regime's leadership to pursue political negotiations to secure the release of the remaining captives. Moreover, internal pressures are linked to the high cost paid by the IOF in Gaza, with each passing day costing the regime $220 million.