Arab summit on Gaza to be postponed: Arab League deputy chief
3 Min Read
Ambassador Hossam Zaki points to Israeli attempts to evade the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which he believes can lead to armed confrontations.
-
Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, left, his deputy Hossam Zaki, center, listens to Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, during an extraordinary Arab foreign ministers meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on October 11, 2023. (AP)
The Arab Summit will likely be postponed beyond its scheduled date of February 27, Arab League Deputy Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told Egypt's state-owned ON television network.
Zaki stated that the summit will be postponed due to "logistical" challenges, as Egypt seeks to secure a high turnout of Arab leaders for this crucial event in Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, Egypt is expected to propose a comprehensive plan for rebuilding the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring that Palestinians remain in the territory while reconstruction efforts move forward. This comes after United States Donald Trump pushed for a plan to displace Palestinians from their homeland and a US "takeover" of the territory. In multiple press conferences and remarks, Trump made Egypt and Jordan the main destinations for displaced Palestinians, an idea that both countries rejected.
A unified Arab stance for governance, Palestinian cause
Zaki said that the primary objective of the summit is to formulate "a unified and firm Arab stance on the Palestinian cause in general and the issue of displacement in particular."
He viewed the displacement of Palestinians as an Israeli idea, which the US is now supporting. Zaki stressed that this required a unified Arab position.
"The true US position on the situation in Gaza will become clear—whether the goal is to expel Palestinians and empty the strip or if current events are merely a means to renegotiate governance in Gaza," Zaki explained.
The ambassador also criticized both the Palestinian Resistance and the Palestinian Authority during the interview. He claimed that "Palestinian interests require that Hamas exit the scene."
Zaki also asserted that the Palestinian Authority is weak, pointing to necessary "reforms" that would allow it to take control of the governance of the Gaza Strip again.
Israeli authorities' lack of commitment to the ceasefire
On the other hand, the Arab official revealed aid meant for Palestinians has accumulated at the Rafah border crossing. Zaki accused Israeli authorities of "procrastination" and deliberate delays in delivering aid, including the necessary equipment for clearing rubble, as well as attempts to evade the second phase of the ceasefire deal.
"Israel is attempting to evade implementing the second phase of the agreement, which includes additional humanitarian measures following the exchange of prisoners and detainees," Zaki said.
He noted that this obstruction reflects a "lack of commitment" to the agreement, which came after nearly 15 months of intense mediated negotiations.
"It [the Israeli approach] could lead to a renewal of armed confrontations just as the residents of the Strip have begun rebuilding their lives. This Israeli approach is troubling and concerning, reflecting a lack of willingness to achieve a long-term truce," Zaki underlined.
