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UAE: Arab officials reject forced displacement of Palestinians amid Trump's Gaza proposal
An official stated that the US' solution in the Middle East 'lies in ending the Palestinian identity in Gaza' which is not a mediation
- PUBLISHED: Wed 12 Feb 2025, 2:32 PM
The Arab world will not accept the idea of forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, top officials said on Wednesday during a summit in Dubai.
The officials were reacting to US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza so it could be rebuilt.
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Addressing the World Government Summit, Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said: "There is no one in the Arab community that accepts the idea of forced displacement.”
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Trump reiterated on Sunday that he is committed to buying and owning Gaza.
Albudaiwi stressed the importance of established constants regarding the Palestinian issue, noting, "International resolutions affirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, their borders, and the return of refugees. These are resolutions recognised by the Security Council."
Albudaiwi also recognised the longstanding significance of US relations in the region, saying, "We value our relationship with President Trump and recognise the importance of the United States for security and stability." However, he added, "In eloquent Arabic, talk is give and take. Trump has his views and the Arab world has its own. Any deal that the Arab world cannot accept will not succeed. The responses are clear and obvious."
Another critical question emerged during the summit: Is the United States genuinely acting as a mediator between Israel and Gaza, or does it exhibit bias? Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, remarked, "America's vision is ambiguous."
He elaborated, stating, "America believes that the solution in the Middle East lies in ending the Palestinian identity in Gaza. This is not mediation."
In contrast, Albudaiwi defended the US position, asserting, "America is still a moderator trying to provide the best solution."
In a powerful dress, Aboul Gheit said: “Give the Palestinians their rights, and after that, all kinds of cooperation with the Arab people are available to the Israeli people. We are not ready to surrender now, as we have not been defeated.”
He added: “There was no Arab defeat. On the contrary, there is Arab progress. We can accept fair settlements between the Palestinian and Israeli populations. And there should be economic and political cooperation after the establishment of the Palestinian state.
Aboul Gheit also questioned Trump’s policy regarding the Palestinian issue: “If Trump continues to pressure the countries of the region from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, he will lead the region to a new cycle of conflict between the Arabs and Israel, instead of resolving the Palestinian issue with a fair solution that will lead to two states.”
He stressed the Arab world’s capability to rebuild Gaza without displacing its people. He pointed out that the Arab Peace Initiative, advocating for a Palestinian state in exchange for peace with Israel, will be reintroduced at the upcoming emergency Arab summit in Cairo on 27 February.
“Relocating Gaza’s population is not only an injustice to the Palestinian people but also a denial of their legitimate right to their land and self-determination,” added Aboul Gheit, emphasising that the Arab World has resisted this notion for nearly a century and will not give up.
Waad Barakat is a Special Correspondent covering security topics, from law enforcement to local courts. With a keen eye for human interest stories, she hopes to blend it all with unique Gen Z-inspired content.
