The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, has invited the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Egypt and Jordan for an informal meeting in Riyadh, an official source told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Friendly Gathering
The informal meeting will take place on Friday, February 21, 2025. The meeting follows a long-standing tradition of friendly gatherings between the leaders of the GCC, the President of Egypt, and the King of Jordan. These friendly meetings strengthen cooperation and coordination among the GCC, Egypt and Jordan.
The official source added that the joint Arab action and any relevant decisions will be included in the agenda of the upcoming emergency Arab Summit, which will be held in Egypt.
Emergency Arab Summit
Cairo will host an emergency Arab Summit on March 4, 2025 to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian cause, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The Summit, initially set for February 27, 2025, was rescheduled after coordination with the Kingdom of Bahrain, the current head of the Arab Summit, and consultations with the Arab states.
Trump’s Proposal
Egypt called for the emergency Arab summit after the increasing calls from American and Israeli officials to displace the Palestinian people from Gaza and resettle them elsewhere.
The US President, Donald Trump, called for relocating Palestinians in Egypt and Jordan, suggesting that the US will take over the Gaza Strip and transform it into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Furthermore, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, suggested that Palestinians could establish a state on Saudi territory.
Rejecting Displacement
The Arab countries have expressed their categorical rejection of these calls, stressing their support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate right to an independent Palestinian state on the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Trump’s proposal has also faced strong international condemnation, with global leaders warning that such a move could threaten regional stability and bring more conflict.
Arab Reconstruction Plan
In response to the growing displacement calls, Egypt is working on a plan to rebuild the war-torn Gaza Strip without forcing Palestinians out of their land.
On Wednesday, the Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, said that Egypt has the expertise and capability to rebuild Gaza within three years, according to Egypt’s Al-Ahram Newspaper.
“From a technical and engineering perspective, we possess the full capability to restore Gaza to a condition even better than its pre-destruction state within three years,” Madbouly said.
