Cairo Peace Summit: A Global Assembly Seeking Resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The serene landscape of the New Administrative Capital, a suburb of Cairo, was interrupted today by the arrival of world leaders and international organizations representatives for the Cairo Peace Summit. The summit’s goal is clear: to discuss the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to find a comprehensive solution to this historical dispute. Representing Morocco in this significant event was none other than King Mohammed VI’s appointee, Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans residing abroad.
A Global Assembly to Resolve a Decades-long Conflict
The summit brought together 31 countries and three international organizations, along with several significant global figures. Leaders of nations such as Qatar, Turkey, Greece, Palestine, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Italy, and Cyprus were in attendance. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, also graced the summit, lauding Egypt’s role in providing aid to Gaza via the Rafah crossing.
Seeking Peace and Justice
The summit focused on finding a solution to the Palestinian crisis, de-escalating the situation in Gaza, and achieving peaceful settlement in the Middle East based on the two-state solution principle and the Arab Peace Initiative. The Egyptian-hosted summit aims to resolve the ongoing conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis.
The attending leaders expressed their condemnation of Israeli attacks on Gaza, calling for the protection of civilians and a fair resolution to the Palestinian issue. They voiced their rejection of forced displacement and emphasized the necessity of achieving peace and finding a permanent and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.
Voices of the Middle East
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in his speech at the summit, lauded Egypt’s role in delivering aid to Gaza through the Rafah crossing. He affirmed that the solution to the Palestinian issue is not displacement, but justice and the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. He warned against dismissing the issue without a fair solution and stressed that Egypt would not permit this at its expense.
King Abdullah II of Jordan also spoke, condemning the extremist policies of the Israeli leadership and emphasizing that the two-state solution has become impossible due to these policies. He warned against international negligence and its disastrous impact on the region, stressing the need to halt the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and protect civilians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed the Palestinians’ determination to remain in their land and their rejection of displacement. He called on the UN Security Council to protect the Palestinian people and cease fire. He expressed his rejection of Israeli occupation operations and called for justice and respect for Palestinian rights.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed, in his speech, the need to abide by international law, protect civilians, and provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. He called for a ceasefire and the achievement of peace based on the two-state solution.
A Step Towards Peace
The Cairo Peace Summit comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, continuing Israeli attacks on Gaza, and military escalation in the region. The summit aims to find a peaceful and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, halt escalation, and protect civilians. Egypt’s call for the summit reflects its desire to revive global momentum for the Palestinian cause and affirm its pivotal role in the issue.