Arab states ready to work with US for Mideast peace, but reject Palestinian relocation proposal Details of Cairo talks

Qatari Foreign Ministry has issued a joint statement following the Arab Six-Party meeting on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which was attended by the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestine Liberation Organization. 

While the sides have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the administration of US President Donald Trump to reach a two-state solution, they have rejected his previous proposal of relocating parts of the Palestinian people to reconstruct the Gaza Strip, Caliber.Az reports.

The ministerial meeting was held in Cairo on February 1, which was also attended by the Arab League organization. 

The document states that the participants expressed their "commitment to cooperating with the US administration "to pursue a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, in line with the two-state solution, and to strive for a conflict-free region." 

US President Donald Trump has previously urged Egypt and Jordan to take in more Palestinian refugees so that demolition and reconstruction works could begin in the Strip, which he described as being "a real mess." He stated that the relocation of the Palestinians "could be short-term or long-term", raising alarms among the Arab world fearing expulsion from the Gaza Strip. Both countries have publicly rejected this proposal, while Trump reiterated on January 30 that "they will do it."

In the statement, the six Arab nations together with the Arab League have " affirmed their rejection of any violation of these inalienable rights, whether through settlement activities, the expulsion and demolition of homes, land annexation, or the displacement of Palestinians from their land. They also rejected any efforts to encourage the transfer or uprooting of Palestinians from their land, under any circumstances or justifications."  

The statement further stressed the importance of maintaining the current ceasefire in order to deliver humanitarian aid, but also called for the "complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and firmly rejected any attempts to divide the Strip." 

Furthermore, the Arab nations have called for the Palestinian Authority to resume its responsibilities in Gaza, which is currently under the control of the Hamas terrorist group. 

By Nazrin Sadigova