22 Middle Eastern and African Countries to Hold Summit on the 27th
Palestinian Reconstruction Expected to Be Discussed
Trump: "We Can Give Land Parcels in Gaza to Other Middle Eastern Countries"
Leaders of the Arab League, consisting of 22 member countries from the Middle East and North Africa, will hold an emergency meeting to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for the "reconstruction of Gaza." This is interpreted as an effort to independently seek solutions within Middle Eastern countries without allowing the U.S. to take the lead on Gaza. After a flood of criticism from various countries regarding his remarks on Gaza, President Trump appeared to step back on the 9th (local time), stating, "We can give land parcels in Gaza to other countries in the Middle East" to aid in Gaza's reconstruction.
According to CNBC on the 9th (local time), the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement that an Arab summit will be held on the 27th to discuss current issues related to Palestine. The Arab summit is a forum where leaders of countries belonging to the Arab League (AL) gather to discuss international issues. The Arab League is composed of 22 countries from the Middle East and North Africa.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "We will discuss the situation as the Palestinian issue develops in a serious direction," adding, "The Palestinian state, which requested the summit, will also be included." Given that the Arab League immediately reacted to President Trump's surprise remarks on Gaza as "shocking," the main agenda of this meeting is expected to be solutions for Gaza.
This meeting serves as a response to the White House's criticism that countries should not just blame but present solutions in the Middle East. Earlier, on the 5th (local time), Mike Waltz, U.S. National Security Advisor at the White House, said regarding President Donald Trump's plan to take control of Gaza, "If they don't like President Trump's solution, I think the entire region (Middle East) will come up with their own solutions."
Attention is focused on whether the proposal by President Trump, suggesting the relocation of Palestinians, will be accepted or if Middle Eastern countries will present a new solution. At present, it seems unlikely that the Arab world will make conciliatory gestures toward President Trump's "surprise proposal." Saudi Arabia, the dominant power in the Arab world, has long raised critical voices against Israel's attacks on Palestinian Gaza. In November last year, Saudi Arabia led a special summit of the Arab League (LAS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Riyadh, condemning Israel as a "massacre" state. This summit was led by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, who has shown a cautious stance since the Gaza crisis. Bin Salman is effectively the key figure shaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
Seemingly aware of the strong backlash from Arab countries, President Trump showed a somewhat softened stance on the Gaza reconstruction plan on the 9th. According to CNN, he views Gaza as a "huge real estate site" and said he could give some land to other Middle Eastern countries to help with Gaza's reconstruction efforts. This means the U.S. will not monopolize the Gaza reconstruction project but will also give Middle Eastern countries a chance to participate. This statement reflects President Trump's calculation to appease Middle Eastern countries, which are directly or indirectly affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict, by involving them in the Gaza reconstruction project.
President Trump's desire to own Gaza remains unchanged. On the same day, while heading to New Orleans, Louisiana, to watch the NFL Super Bowl on Air Force One, he reiterated his ownership intention, saying, "We are committed to buying Gaza and owning it," and "The U.S. will own it, and we will develop it slowly and without rushing."
He also revealed plans to soon meet with Saudi Arabia and Egypt to discuss the Palestinian issue. President Trump said he is scheduled to meet Crown Prince bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi soon, and that after talking with these two countries, they will agree to accept Palestinian residents.
President Trump also stated that he would take care of the Palestinian residents of Gaza and ensure they are not killed, and that he would admit Palestinian refugees to the U.S. through individual case reviews. This statement contrasts with the Trump administration's policies, which have been strengthening illegal immigration controls since his inauguration. Recently, President Trump also ordered withdrawal from international relief organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
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