Syria's new president to represent country at Arab League meeting on Gaza

Syria’s President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, received an official invitation on February 23 to attend a special Arab League summit on Gaza, which is scheduled to be hosted by Egypt in Cairo on March 4.

The invitation came directly from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as confirmed by a statement from the Syrian presidency, Caliber.Az reports referring to Arab media.

The summit was convened in response to the controversial plan put forward by US President Donald Trump, who proposed that the US take control of Gaza and transform it into what he envisioned as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Under Trump's plan, the Palestinian population would be relocated to neighbouring countries like Egypt and Jordan. This proposal has faced widespread criticism from Arab governments, world leaders, and the United Nations, which warned that it could lead to “ethnic cleansing” in the region. Al-Sharaa has denounced the plan, calling it “a very huge crime that cannot happen.”

Syria, once suspended from the Arab League in 2011 due to President Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests, was reinstated in the organization in 2023. Although Syria has made a comeback in regional politics, al-Sharaa's coalition, “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham,” played a significant role in overthrowing Assad last year. This resulted in al-Sharaa assuming the position of interim president. Egypt, while backing Assad during the civil war, has engaged cautiously with Syria since the regime's fall.

The upcoming summit in Cairo will mark al-Sharaa’s first appearance at an Arab League meeting as Syria’s representative. This momentous event comes as Syria's new leadership seeks to rebuild relations with the international community.

Meanwhile, the European Union has taken a significant step by easing sanctions on Syria’s energy, transport, and banking sectors, aimed at supporting the country's reconstruction after Assad's regime crumbled. The EU’s decision, made during a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, includes suspending sanctions on key sectors and allowing financial transactions with five Syrian banks, including Syria’s central bank. The EU emphasized that its efforts are intended to facilitate engagement with Syria and its people, particularly in the fields of energy, transport, and humanitarian reconstruction.

Despite these moves, European and Western powers have remained cautious, signalling that further action will depend on Syria’s new leaders showing a genuine commitment to an inclusive political transition.

By Tamilla Hasanova