Syrian President Al-Sharaa joins emergency Arab summit to discuss Palestinian crisis

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has officially been invited to attend an emergency Arab League (AL) summit set to take place in Cairo on February 27.

According to diplomatic sources cited by Shafaq News, there are no objections to al-Sharaa's participation, particularly given the shared interest among Egypt and Arab leaders in presenting a unified stance against the increasing Israeli threats and the critical situation surrounding the Palestinian issue, per Caliber.Az.

The sources further revealed that a recent understanding has been reached between Egypt and the new Syrian administration after Egypt formally conveyed its security concerns to Syria. This exchange took place during a visit last week by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to Türkiye, which coincided with the visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Ati.

The invitation comes amid growing concerns in the region regarding developments in Gaza, following controversial proposals by US President Donald Trump about the future of Gaza and Palestinian residents.

Arab leaders have expressed strong opposition to Trump's suggestions, particularly after he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 3 and proposed relocating Gaza's residents to other areas, suggesting the possibility of creating a "Riviera of the Middle East." Trump further stated that he viewed the plan as a “real estate transaction,” adding that the US would act as an investor in the region, but emphasized that there was "no rush to do anything."

The planned summit in Cairo will discuss these "new and dangerous developments in the Palestinian issue," according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s statement. Arab states have consistently rejected Trump’s comments, with Palestinian leaders voicing their opposition to the relocation plan as well.

In addition to these discussions, the summit will also address the recent remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who suggested that Saudi Arabia might have enough land to accommodate a future Palestinian state. Although Netanyahu’s comment appeared to be a response to a slip of the tongue during an Israeli TV interview, it sparked significant controversy across the region, adding to the rising tensions over the handling of the Palestinian situation.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Syrian President al-Sharaa are expected to hold direct talks during the summit, which will also include other Arab leaders to address the broader regional security and political implications.

By Tamilla Hasanova