Egypt announced on Sunday that it will host a summit of Arab leaders on February 27 to discuss the future of the Gaza Strip after President Donald Trump signaled his desire for the US to own the territory. The move has rankled key US allies in the Middle East, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
The Egyptian foreign ministry said the meeting would focus on “the state of Palestine” and was requested by the Palestinian side due to new developments that pose a threat to the Palestinian cause. Gaza’s Arab neighbors have dismissed Trump’s calls for them to take in the 1.8 million Palestinians still living in the Strip.
Trump reiterated his commitment to owning Gaza, saying he wanted to “buy and own” it and ensuring Hamas doesn’t move back into the territory. He claimed that Palestinians don’t want to return to Gaza, saying they will live “beautifully and in harmony and peace.” The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Trump’s team, calls for a three- to five-year reconstruction phase.
Trump’s comments have sparked outrage among Arab leaders, with Jordan’s King Abdullah II set to meet with him at the White House on Tuesday. Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are also expected to hold talks with Trump in the coming days.
The Palestinian terror group Hamas has condemned Trump’s remarks as “absurd,” saying Gaza is an integral part of their occupied Palestinian land and cannot be bought and sold. Negotiations for the mid- and long-term future continue, with Hamas demanding all Israeli troops out of Gaza and Israel seeking to eliminate Hamas.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/egypt-planning-emergency-arab-summit-palestinian-territory-trumps-gaza-plan-us-president-insists