On Saturday, at the Cairo Summit, Arab leaders convened to ‘de-escalate’ tensions following Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October, and condemned Israel’s subsequent bombing of Gaza and the complete siege of the enclave.
Representatives from Jordan, France, Germany, Russia, China, the UK, the US, Qatar, and South Africa attended Cairo’s ‘Summit for Peace,’ along with the UN and EU officials.
World leaders at the Cairo Peace Summit are trying to ‘de-escalate’ the Israel-Gaza war.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 21, 2023
Jordan’s King Abdullah used his speech to condemn the war crimes of collective punishment and the forced displacement of Palestinians ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/HL7hgfikig
Arab Leaders Push to End Israel-Hamas War
In his opening remarks, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said his country vehemently rejected “the forced displacement of the Palestinians and their transfer to Egyptian lands in Sinai.”
“I want to state it clearly and unequivocally to the world that the liquidation of the Palestinian cause without a just solution is beyond the realm of possibility, and in any case, it will never happen at the expense of Egypt, absolutely not,” he remarked.
Additionally, El-Sisi urged countries to agree on a road map to end the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and re-establish an agreement for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. He explained that the plan’s objectives included delivering supplies to Gaza and reaching an agreement on a cease-fire, followed by discussions leading to a two-state solution.
“All civilian lives matter,” Jordanian King Abdullah II declared during his address to the summit. “The relentless bombing campaign under way in Gaza as we speak is cruel and unconscionable on every level. It is collective punishment of a besieged and helpless people. It is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. It is a war crime.”
Abdullah II demanded “an immediate end to the war in Gaza” and condemned the “global silence” on Palestinian deaths and suffering.
“The message the Arab world is hearing is loud and clear: Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones. Our lives matter less than other lives,” he asserted.
'We won’t leave, we will remain on our land,' Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said during his opening speech at the Cairo Peace Summit https://t.co/zmMSOSMnsx pic.twitter.com/zlNy5gga1D
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 21, 2023
Furthermore, Abdullah II stated, “Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water, electricity and basic necessities would be condemned. Accountability would be enforced… but not in Gaza.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attended the meeting and requested the opening of humanitarian corridors. He also stated that the Palestinians would not leave the Gaza Strip. “We will remain on our land.”
UN Chief Demands ‘Humanitarian Ceasefire’
UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the need to set short-term targets, reiterating his request for immediate, unrestricted and sustained assistance to Gaza, the unconditional release of all Hamas hostages, and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Guterres stressed the need for continued humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, noting that hundreds of trucks “teeming with food and other essential supplies” were on the Egyptian side, while two million people in Gaza were without water, food, fuel, electricity, or medicine.
My appeal today from the Middle East:
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 21, 2023
Immediate, unrestricted & sustained humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza.
Immediate & unconditional release of all hostages.
Immediate & dedicated efforts to prevent the spread of violence, which is increasing the risk of spillover.
In a statement, Guterres said, “the grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long” as an outcome of “56 years of occupation with no end in sight,” but added that “nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorised Israeli civilians.”
However, Guterres further mentioned that “these abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
The Secretary-General highlighted the need to uphold international humanitarian law, including protecting civilians and refraining from attacking hospitals, schools, and UN facilities currently sheltering 500,000 people.
Guterres urged Israelis and Palestinians not to lose sight of “the only realistic foundation for true peace and stability,” namely a two-state solution.
Europe Calls for ‘De-escalation’ Efforts
France advocated for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, which it believes would lead to a ceasefire. The UK and Germany also urged Israel’s military to show restraint, while Italy stressed the need to avoid escalation.
European Council President Charles Michel said the summit’s principal purpose is “to listen to each other.” However, he added, “we understand that we need to work more together” on matters such as the humanitarian crisis, preventing a regional escalation, and a Palestinian-Israeli peace process.