Macron – al-Sisi – Abdullah II Summit: Ceasefire in Gaza and Opposition to Displacement of Palestinians

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and King Abdullah II of Jordan called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Monday to protect Palestinians and ensure that they receive immediate humanitarian aid. They affirmed their rejection of the displacement of Palestinians from their land and any attempts to annex Palestinian territories.

According to the Egyptian website “The Seventh Day,” this call came in a final statement issued after a tripartite summit held by the three leaders in Cairo, addressing the dangerous situation in Gaza, where Israeli military forces have been conducting a brutal campaign since October 7, 2023.

In light of the resumption of Israeli military strikes in Gaza, the leaders emphasized the need for an immediate return to a ceasefire to safeguard Palestinians and ensure that they receive comprehensive humanitarian assistance without delay. The statement also called for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement signed on January 19, which included guarantees for the release of all hostages and detainees, as well as the security of all individuals involved.

The leaders stressed that protecting civilians and humanitarian aid workers, as well as ensuring full access to humanitarian assistance, are obligations under international law and humanitarian law. They expressed deep concern regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Additionally, the leaders called for an end to all unilateral actions that undermine the prospect of achieving a two-state solution and that increase regional tensions. They also emphasized the need to respect the historical status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.

They rejected the displacement of Palestinians from their homeland and any attempts to annex Palestinian territories. They called for international support for the Gaza reconstruction plan adopted by the Arab Summit in Cairo on March 4, which was also recognized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on March 7.

They discussed mechanisms for effectively implementing this plan, particularly concerning security and governance.

The leaders reiterated that governance and maintenance of order and security in Gaza and all Palestinian territories should fall exclusively under the possible Palestinian National Authority, accompanied by strong regional and international support. They expressed their readiness to assist in this endeavor in coordination with partners.

The leaders reaffirmed the need to crystallize these efforts at the upcoming June conference, which will be chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, to create a clear political framework for implementing the two-state solution.

Amal Farhat

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