The Cairo Summit is reshaping the scene... What awaits Gaza?

In a decisive step towards Gaza's future, the Arab summit emphasized in its final statement that the interim administration of the sector will operate under the supervision of the legitimate Palestinian government, affirming that the only permissible weapon is legitimate arms. Arab leaders also expressed their full support for Palestinian efforts to manage Gaza, welcoming the formation of a special committee for this purpose. They stressed that achieving a just and comprehensive peace is the only strategic option, ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with sovereignty based on the two-state solution. The summit strongly warned against any attempts to displace Palestinians from their lands, considering any such move would ignite new conflicts and destroy peace prospects. It also condemned Israeli policies aimed at pressuring Palestinians through starvation and systematic attacks to force them to leave their homeland. The summit approved an ambitious Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza worth $53 billion over five years, including two phases focusing on urgent relief, reconstruction, and sustainable economic development. It called for expediting an international conference to support reconstruction efforts and urged the international community to provide necessary funding promptly. Furthermore, the summit called on the UN Security Council to deploy international forces to maintain peace in Gaza and the West Bank, deeming it a necessary step for achieving stability. It emphasized the need to halt Israeli aggression, including settlements and house demolitions, expressing full support for the international initiative led by Saudi Arabia and France to hold a conference in New York in June to implement the two-state solution. In a move to enhance transparency and ensure aid reaches its beneficiaries, the summit recommended establishing a credit fund to manage financial commitments for Gaza's reconstruction. It affirmed support for the continued work of UNRWA and rejected any attempts to dissolve or diminish its role. These actions come amidst a resolute Arab rejection of a controversial American plan that sparked global outrage, proposing to turn Gaza into the "Middle East Riviera" and displace its residents to Egypt and Jordan. With Egypt intensifying its efforts in recent weeks, Cairo appeared in a leadership position, offering a practical alternative to rebuild Gaza without infringing on the rights of its people. With these decisions, the Arab summit has laid out a clear roadmap for Gaza's future, balancing reconstruction, ensuring stability, and upholding the Palestinian right to an independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem.