CAIRO, March 4 (MENA) - The participating Arab leaders in the extraordinary Arab summit, hosted by Egypt in the New Administrative Capital, reiterated on Tuesday their categorical rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land.

They stressed their steady position as regards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, as the only path to achieving lasting peace in the region.

Spokesman for the Egyptian presidency Mohamed el Shennawy said discussions during the summit dwelt on ways of supporting the Palestinian cause.

He referred to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's speech at the summit in which he thanked Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa for his genuine efforts during his presidency of the Arab League Council at the summit's level.

He also greeted all Arab and Islamic peoples on the occasion of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Addressing the participants, President Sisi said that their participation in this extraordinary summit comes amid the current regional crisis and in response to the call of Palestine, and asserts open-ended commitment to the nation’s issues.

"Today we are united by a grim reality in light of the serious challenges to our region that undermine regional security and stability as well as the foundations of Arab national security, threaten stable Arab countries, and strip Arab lands from their rightful owners," President Sisi stressed.

The retentive memory of humanity will pause for a long time in front of what happened in Gaza, to duly record how humanity was lost, and how the intense aggression on Gaza left a stain on the history of humanity, President Sisi said, adding that this leads to the spread of hatred, the lack of humanity, and the absence of justice.

The children and women of Gaza, who lost their loved ones, and tens of thousands of Palestinians, who have been killed and orphaned, look at the world with hopeful eyes to restore hope for a just and lasting peace, President Sisi said.

The ongoing war on the Gaza Strip aimed at destroying all aspects of life, and sought, by force of arms, to empty the Strip of its population, giving the people of Gaza a stark choice between total annihilation or forced displacement, he said.

Sisi said that the suffering in Palestine has weakened some, but he has always believed in the strength of the Palestinian people.

He said that Palestinians' determination and deep connection to their land serve as a powerful example that will be recognized by free nations. Their resilience, he added, is a symbol of their right to reclaim what is theirs.

Sisi said that Egypt has stood by peace for nearly five decades and has always committed to agreements based on fairness.

He stressed that true peace must protect land, preserve sovereignty, and respect international commitments.

He pointed to Egypt’s 1979 peace treaty, which obligates both sides to respect territorial integrity. He warned against actions that force people from their land, calling them a violation of agreed principles on secure borders.

Since the war on Gaza began, Egypt has worked with Qatar and the United States to achieve a ceasefire. Sisi said these efforts would not have been possible without the role played by US President Donald Trump and his administration.

He expressed hope that these efforts will continue until a permanent ceasefire is secured and stability is restored. He said the Palestinian people deserve to see their independent state established, as this is the only path to lasting peace in the region.

The President also noted that Egypt continues to work toward ending the war, preventing further suffering, and ensuring that peace is built on justice and rights for the Palestinian people.

Sisi said Egypt has worked in cooperation with "brothers in Palestine" to create an administrative committee of independent, professional Palestinian technocrats entrusted with the governance of Gaza.

The committee shall be responsible for the oversight of humanitarian aid and managing the Gaza Strip's affairs for a temporary period, in preparation for the return of the Palestinian Authority, Sisi added.

He noted that Egypt is also working on training Palestinian security cadres, who will be tasked with maintaining security during the coming phase.

The president said Egypt has worked in cooperation with Palestine and international institutions to formulate a comprehensive and integrated reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip without displacing Palestinians.

The plan starts with urgent relief and early recovery; leading up to Gaza reconstruction, he added.

Sisi urged Arab leaders to adopt this reconstruction plan during today’s extraordinary summit as well as to mobilize international and regional support for it.

It is a plan that preserves the Palestinian people’s right to rebuild their home country and ensures their survival on their land, he added.

The plan has to be concurrent with a clear path to peace, including political and security aspects and involving countries of the region with the support of the international community, Sisi stressed.

This aims to reach just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue, he added.

President Sisi called on free states to contribute to this path and participate in the Gaza reconstruction conference that is set to be hosted by Egypt in April.

Sisi renewed his strong rejection of continued attacks on Al Aqsa Mosque, warning of the grave consequences of violating its sanctity and undermining its current status.

"The city of Jerusalem is not merely a city — it is a symbol of our identity and cause," Sisi said, adding that achieving peace in the Middle East would be impossible without resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The president stressed that there can be no genuine peace without establishing an independent Palestinian state within June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and providing security guarantees to Israel.

The repeated cycles of violence and the suffering of the Palestinian people that has been going on for more than seven decades obliges us to face facts and work collectively towards reaching the long-hoped-for lasting peace which will bring stability, economic prosperity, and peaceful coexistence among the region's peoples, he said.

Sisi cited Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel, brokered by the United States, as a model for turning enmity and conflict into lasting peace and diplomatic relations.

"It is time to launch a serious and effective political process that leads to a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause in line with international legitimacy resolutions," the President said, expressing confidence in US President Donald Trump's ability to broker such a deal. (MENA)
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