Arab leaders met at a hastily convened gathering in Cairo, the Cairo Peace Summit, to address the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The two-week-old bombardment of Gaza by Israel has led to significant casualties and raised concerns about the potential for a wider regional war. The summit aimed to find ways to prevent further escalation and seek a path towards a Middle East peace settlement.
Jordan’s King Abdullah, speaking at the summit, condemned the global silence surrounding Israel’s attacks on Gaza and called for an equitable approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He expressed outrage over the violence inflicted on innocent civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel, emphasizing that Palestinian lives should hold equal value to Israeli lives. The King stressed the need for a foundation of justice for lasting peace and security in the region, urging the Israeli leadership to recognize this imperative.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to the Palestinian cause and declared that Palestinians would not be displaced or driven from their land. His impassioned plea emphasized the determination of the Palestinian people to remain in their homeland.
The ongoing conflict was triggered by an attack on southern Israel by the Gaza-based Hamas group, resulting in the deadliest Palestinian assault in Israeli history, with 1,400 casualties. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas entirely, and its military campaign has caused severe casualties in Gaza, sparking a humanitarian crisis.
The Cairo Peace Summit was convened to seek ways to prevent further escalation and regional war. However, it faced significant challenges in achieving a common position among the participating Middle Eastern and European leaders. Diplomats noted that the summit was unlikely to issue a joint statement due to sensitivities surrounding the call for a ceasefire and how to address Hamas’s attack and Israel’s right to defend itself.
The absence of top officials from the United States and some Western leaders cooled expectations for the summit’s outcomes. The United States, currently without an ambassador in Egypt, was represented by its embassy Charge d’Affaires.
While the summit met, Israel prepared for a ground assault on Gaza, causing increasing concern. The conflict has already led to over 4,100 Palestinian casualties and deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Arab countries have expressed anger and condemnation over Israel’s extensive bombardment and blockade of Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. Their demands for justice and an independent Palestinian state have been echoed throughout the summit.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi highlighted his country’s opposition to the displacement of Palestinians into Egypt’s Sinai region. He emphasized that the only solution to the Palestinian issue is justice and the realization of Palestinians’ legitimate rights in an independent state.
Egypt has been working to channel humanitarian relief to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, the only access point not controlled by Israel. Egyptian state TV footage showed trucks loaded with humanitarian aid entering Gaza shortly before the summit’s opening.
The summit’s specific goals were not fully disclosed, but they revolved around addressing recent developments in the Gaza crisis and the future of the Palestinian issue. European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, did not attend, reflecting ongoing difficulties in achieving a united European approach to the conflict. It remains uncertain whether the summit will result in a common declaration due to differences among participants and Arab leaders.
