Egypt is set to host an international peace summit on Saturday, with the participation of 31 countries and three international organizations in the administrative capital, to discuss de-escalation efforts in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian territories.
The summit aims to explore avenues for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, ceasefires, and initiate discussions on comprehensive resolutions for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution.
The International Peace Summit in Egypt is in response to the invitation extended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to host an international summit on the Palestinian issue.
World Leaders Begin to Arrive
World leaders have already begun to arrive in Egypt, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain having arrived.
According to sources from "Cairo News," leaders from Qatar, Turkey, Greece, Palestine, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Italy, and Cyprus have confirmed their participation. Also in attendance will be the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
It is expected that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will also attend, along with the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Japan, and Britain. Additionally, President of the European Council Charles Michel and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell are anticipated participants.
The 2023 Egypt International Peace Summit represents an Egyptian step towards outlining the broad strokes of resolving the issue and finding a definitive solution, while reaffirming the rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from their land—a concept staunchly rejected by Egyptian President and Arab leaders.
The Egyptian presidency, in a statement, reiterated its rejection of any attempts to settle the Palestinian issue through displacement and emphasized that "Egypt's national security is a red line that will not be compromised."
Widespread Response
The widespread response from Arab and international nations to the Egyptian summit underscores Egypt's significance in the region and its decisive stance on the Palestinian issue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that Egypt has repeatedly proven itself as a pillar of peace, uniquely capable of defusing violence.
During a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Guterres emphasized that targeting hospitals and schools is a blatant violation of international laws, and the current crisis is unprecedented in the region.
The UN Secretary-General called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, even as the U.S. discusses sending additional military aid to Israel and the American President urges Congress for $14 billion in support for Israel.
President Sisi's Remarks on the Summit
President Sisi addressed the peace summit during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Ittihadiya Palace on Wednesday. He expressed his hope that the summit will contribute to de-escalating the situation in Gaza, saving lives, and addressing the deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
