United Arab Emirates Archives

Saudi Arabia Holds 5-Nation Summit For Gaza

CrossFireArabia
February 17, 2025

Saudi Arabia is set to host a five-nation Arab meeting on 20 February to discuss an Egyptian-led proposal for rebuilding the Gaza Strip while ensuring that its Palestinian residents are not displaced, an Arab League official announced.

The meeting will bring together officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Hossam Zaki, the Arab League’s assistant secretary-general.

In a televised statement, Zaki noted that Palestine may also be invited to take part in the discussions, which aim to establish a framework for the reconstruction initiative ahead of an upcoming Arab summit according to The Palestine Chronicle.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vcly18dvil4%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Egypt has scheduled an emergency Arab summit for 27 February, following the controversial proposal by former US President Donald Trump to take control of Gaza and forcibly resettle its Palestinian population.

Trump claimed his plan would turn the devastated enclave into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” a proposal widely condemned as ethnic cleansing.

“The countries participating in the upcoming meeting seek to coordinate their positions regarding the Egyptian proposals that will be presented at the Arab summit,” Zaki stated.

He added that the summit could be postponed for logistical reasons to ensure maximum participation from Arab leaders.

https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israel-is-threat-to-all-arab-nations-ramzy-baroud-speaks-to-egypts-al-dostour/embed/#?secret=mqxlQ55DlN#?secret=ZpysDELW92

According to Zaki, the summit will aim to unify the Arab stance on Palestine, firmly reject displacement schemes initiated by Israel and backed by the US, and put forward a collective Arab counterproposal to Trump’s plan.

On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi confirmed that Cairo is working on a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza, emphasizing that the initiative would not involve the forced relocation of Palestinians.

The discussions come in the wake of a ceasefire agreement that took effect in Gaza on 19 January, ending months of Israeli attacks that killed and wounded over 160,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—and left much of the enclave in ruins.

News

Marco Rubio: ‘…Hamas Can Never Rule Gaza…’!

CrossFireArabia
February 12, 2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that Hamas must never govern Gaza again, according to a State Department readout of their call on Tuesday.

The two discussed regional security, the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, and the release of hostages, including American citizens, said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

During the call, Rubio expressed appreciation for the UAE’s humanitarian aid to Gaza and “highlighted the imperative of ensuring that Hamas can never rule Gaza or threaten Israel again,” she said.

Rubio and Sheikh Mohamed also reaffirmed the strength of US-UAE ties and explored avenues for cooperation in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. They further discussed “their support for the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon,” said Bruce.

The call came as US President Donald Trump’s proposal to “take over” Gaza and forcibly displace Palestinians faced widespread international criticism.

Rubio is set to visit the Middle East this week with planned stops in the UAE, Israel and Saudi Arabia as part of diplomatic efforts amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza according to Anadolu.

On Monday, Trump warned that “all hell” will break out if all Israeli captives in Gaza were not released by 12 p.m. on Saturday.

Hamas announced late Monday that it was indefinitely postponing the next hostage-prisoner exchange scheduled for Saturday, citing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The three-phase ceasefire deal has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, halting Israel’s 15-month war, which has killed more than 48,200 people and left the enclave in ruins.