Cairo is set to host the Egypt Peace Summit on Saturday, bringing together regional and international leaders in a joint effort to de-escalate the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The summit’s primary objectives include protecting civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip, opening safe passages, and facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid.
Diplomatic sources and observers, as reported by Sky News Arabia, identify three main priorities on the summit’s agenda. These priorities are headed by an immediate ceasefire, allowing for “sustainable” aid and supplies to enter Gaza, which has been grappling with dire humanitarian conditions for the past two weeks. Additionally, the summit seeks to kickstart comprehensive peace negotiations based on the two-state solution principle.
Egypt has extended invitations to numerous Arab and European nations, with 31 countries and three international organizations confirmed to attend. Leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Greece, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Italy, Cyprus, the United Nations Secretary-General, and the Secretary-General of the Arab League are among the participants.
The summit comes against the backdrop of the United Nations Security Council’s continued failure to pass resolutions, both Russian and Brazilian, underscoring the global interest in supporting Egypt’s vision for discussions aimed at achieving a comprehensive solution and reinvigorating the peace process.
Summit Objectives: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry outlined the goals of the regional and international summit focusing on the developments and future of the Palestinian issue:
1. Unified International Voice: The summit aims to present a unified international voice, with leaders from influential regional and global powers emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire. They will also address humanitarian conditions and explore avenues for a two-state solution, ultimately working towards regional peace and stability.
2. Egypt’s Ongoing Role: Egypt’s constant role in containment and achieving calm is a fundamental aspect of this summit. The current crisis cannot persist in its current form, especially considering the ongoing civilian casualties in Gaza and actions that deviate from the rules of engagement.
3. Ceasefire and Two-State Solution: While the immediate focus is on de-escalation, the summit acknowledges the importance of peace and a two-state solution. However, it recognizes that the current situation cannot continue, particularly in light of civilian casualties in Gaza and actions that depart from established norms.
The Egypt Peace Summit comes at a crucial and sensitive time for the entire Palestinian issue, according to Ambassador Ali Al-Hefny, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs. Al-Hefny emphasized that the conference includes numerous leaders and heads of states concerned with achieving peace in this critical region. Cairo acknowledges the dire situation in Gaza, which may persist for an extended period without immediate intervention.
It is essential for the international community and stakeholders in peace to collectively express their rejection of the ongoing events in the region.
Ambassador Al-Hefny outlined the top priorities of the Egypt Peace Summit:
• Immediate Ceasefire: The summit’s foremost priority is an urgent and immediate ceasefire between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.
• Safe Humanitarian Corridors: Ensuring safe and sustainable humanitarian aid corridors into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.
• Planning for the Future: Focusing on future steps to resolve the crisis, including comprehensive discussions for a two-state solution. The summit supports the creation of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.
• Rejecting Forced Displacement: Rejecting Israeli attempts to forcibly relocate Gaza and West Bank residents toward the borders of Egypt and Jordan. The summit aims to establish a unified opposition to such actions.
Ambassador Al-Hefny stressed that the participating countries recognize the severity of the current situation and the potential for it to escalate into a regional conflict involving other parties, affecting the interests of countries in the region as a whole. He also emphasized that starving millions of people and the urgent desire to forcibly displace them are entirely unacceptable.
Therefore, the summit calls upon the global conscience, represented not only by governments but also by various international and regional entities, to voice their opinions and condemn war crimes against the Palestinian people.
