Arab summit backs Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan, rejects forced Palestinian displacement

CAIRO — The emergency Arab summit in Cairo has officially adopted Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan to rebuild the war-torn Gaza Strip, emphasizing the need for early recovery and comprehensive restoration efforts.

In its final statement, the summit announced the adoption of Egypt’s proposal, developed in coordination with Palestine and Arab nations, and based on studies by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Fund.

The plan is set to serve as a comprehensive Arab initiative to rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure and revive essential services.

The summit firmly rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians from their land, stating that such actions would constitute a crime under international law.

To reinforce this stance, an Arab legal committee has been assigned to examine whether the forced displacement of Palestinians can be classified as part of the crime of genocide.

Additionally, the statement condemned Israel’s recent decision to halt humanitarian aid to Gaza and close key border crossings used for relief efforts.

The summit labeled these actions as violations of the ceasefire agreement, international law, and international humanitarian law.

It also denounced Israel’s use of siege tactics and starvation of civilians as a means to achieve political objectives, calling for unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. — SG with inputs from Agencies