Liquidating the Palestinian cause is exactly what Israel wants: Abdelatty to Arab-Islamic Committee on Gaza
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), which runs from 11 to 13 April in Turkey.
'The Arab stance is clear in its complete rejection of any displacement of Palestinians from their land or forcing them out of their homeland, whether temporarily or permanently,' asserted the foreign minister.
During his speech, Abdelatty also reaffirmed Egypt's firm rejection of any attempt to alter Gaza's demographic reality through the displacement or resettlement of Palestinians outside their homeland, calling it a clear violation of international law that undermines peace efforts and threatens regional stability.
Advancing Gaza truce, reconstruction plan
Meanwhile, Egypt's foreign minister affirmed that Egyptian and Qatari efforts are ongoing to secure a deal for the release of Israeli detainees in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
He said the meeting reviewed efforts to reinstate the 19 January ceasefire, emphasizing the need to move to its second phase and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
In this context, the FM stressed that a ceasefire would pave the way for the upcoming Cairo reconstruction conference and the implementation of the Arab plan, which includes temporary housing and essential services to help Palestinians remain on their land.
He also highlighted the importance of empowering the Palestinian Authority and noted Egypt and Jordan's role in training Palestinian police for deployment in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the meeting participants reaffirmed support for the early recovery plan and the upcoming reconstruction conference in Egypt. They also discussed security arrangements and effective governance for the Gaza Strip, including forming an administrative committee to manage the territory for a six-month transitional period.
FM Abdelatty also reaffirmed the country's continuous efforts since the outbreak of the war on 7 October to de-escalate violence and ensure aid access.
He stressed that the ME region is at a critical crossroads, amid the ongoing humanitarian suffering in Gaza, and called for unified international action to achieve peace, justice, and dignity for Palestinians, and to create a political path toward an independent Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Expanded meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Gaza
In tandem, Abdelatty reiterated these key messages in a separate expanded meeting of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza that included Russia, China, the European Union (EU), Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain.
The FM outlined Egypt's vision for ensuring the success of the reconstruction conference and its associated workshops, highlighting the role of the private sector and financing mechanisms.
Moreover, the meeting discussed the importance of empowering the administrative committee tasked with managing Gaza's affairs to help preserve unity between the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
The meeting's participants also emphasized the importance of the upcoming Two-State Solution Conference in New York this June, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, as a step toward creating a political pathway for implementing the two-state solution and advancing regional stability.
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