Egypt has announced it will host an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) after the Arab summit on February 27 in Cairo. This meeting will focus on reaffirming the strong support of Arab and Islamic countries for Palestinian rights.
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting will take place to underline the consistent position of Arab and Islamic nations in supporting the Palestinian cause. Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdul Ati has already held discussions with officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, and Jordan, which led to an agreement to organize the OIC meeting following the Arab summit.
The announcement comes just after former US President Donald Trump made headlines with a controversial proposal about the Gaza Strip. In a recent Fox News interview, Trump shared his plan, stating that Palestinians would have no right to return to Gaza. He called his idea a ‘real estate development for the future,’ suggesting that he would take control of Gaza and build new, safer communities for Palestinians elsewhere.
Trump said Palestinians, over two million in number, would be relocated to six new areas outside Gaza, including in Egypt and Jordan. Instead of returning to Gaza, he proposed creating ‘beautiful communities’ in other places, claiming that these new areas would offer Palestinians better living conditions.
In the Arab world many have rejected Trump’s idea. His plan to relocate Palestinians is being criticized as forced displacement, and international groups like the United Nations have warned that such actions would be against international law.
In light of these developments, Egypt’s upcoming OIC meeting will likely address these issues, reaffirming the importance of Palestinian rights and condemning any attempts to forcefully remove Palestinians from their homes. This meeting will send a strong message to the world that Arab and Islamic nations remain united in supporting the Palestinian cause.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian minister of Foreign Affairs and immigration is heading to the United States where he is scheduled to meet with a number of senior officials of the new US administration and members of Congress. The visit comes within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, and consulting on regional developments.