Several countries affirm Palestine's right to control Gaza

Arab foreign ministers have strongly opposed any transfer of Palestinians from their land under any circumstances. 

They issued a united response to US President Donald Trump's suggestion that Egypt and Jordan accept residents of the Gaza Strip, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

In a joint statement after a meeting in Cairo, officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League warned that such a move would destabilize the region, fuel further conflict, and jeopardize peace efforts.

“We affirm our rejection of [any attempts] to compromise Palestinians’ unalienable rights, whether through settlement activities, or evictions or annex of land or through vacating the land from its owners...in any form or under any circumstances or justifications,” the joint statement read. 

The ministers expressed their eagerness to collaborate with Trump’s administration to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, based on a two-state solution. They also welcomed Egypt’s plans to host an international conference with the United Nations focused on rebuilding Gaza, which has been heavily damaged during the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas. No specific date has been set for the conference. 

The six-party ministerial meeting also praised the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the exchange of hostages and detainees. They emphasized the importance of maintaining the truce and ensuring that humanitarian aid can reach all parts of the Gaza Strip without any obstacles, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. 

During the session, the ministers reached several key agreements, including supporting the full implementation of the ceasefire and calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. They rejected any efforts to divide Gaza and emphasized the Palestinian Authority's role in governing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. 

Additionally, they reaffirmed support for UNRWA’s mission and opposed any restrictions on its operations. The ministers also called for global coordination in Gaza’s reconstruction to assist displaced Palestinians and improve living conditions. 

They condemned settlements, land annexations, and displacement policies that destabilize the region. Furthermore, they endorsed Egypt’s initiative, in collaboration with the UN, to organize a Gaza reconstruction conference.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump suggested that Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations may take in more Palestinian refugees from Gaza, potentially clearing the area for a fresh start.

He made these remarks during a 20-minute question-and-answer session with reporters aboard Air Force One on January 25.

Trump mentioned that he had spoken earlier that day with King Abdullah II of Jordan and was scheduled to speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on January 26 about his broader vision for Gaza.

By Naila Huseynova