Islamabad:
Leaders from the most important Arab nations and members of the Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC), who met US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, have been pressing for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages and a comprehensive recovery plan, according to a joint statement issued Wednesday.
The summit held on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly Session was convened for the initiative of President Trump. The meeting hosted President Trump and Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and participated by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Peakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Shari Mustafa Kamal Madbouly, Ue Pready Pready Premauty Premier Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud.
The joint statement issued by the most important leaders of the Arab League and OIC thanked Trump for gathering the parties and highlighting the “unbearable situation” in Gaza pointing to the humanitarian disaster, heavy civilian toll and the broader regional consequences. They rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians and called for the return of those who fled during the conflict.
The leaders emphasized the urgent nature of a ceasefire that would facilitate both humanitarian relief and the release of hostages.
They also assumed the responsibility of Washington’s leadership to shepherd a long -term peace process. “They repeated their commitment to collaborate with President Trump and emphasized the importance of his leadership to end the war and open horizons of a fair and lasting peace,” the Communic Magu read.
Participants also threw their support behind the Palestinian Authority’s reform efforts and emphasized the need for stability in the West Bank and the holy places of Jerusalem. They supported an Arabic and OIC-led plan for rebuilding in Gaza combined with international security schemes and financing.
Trump was flanked by his top Middle East team, including State Secretary Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary and special envoy for Middle East Steve Witkoff.
The leaders agreed that the summit should serve as the start of a sustained process against peace and regional cooperation.
Participants emphasized the need to ensure a comprehensive plan for rebuilding in Gaza, based on the Arab and OIC plan, as well as security schemes, with international assistance supporting the Palestinian leadership, and expressed commitment to work together to ensure success with plans and to rebuild the Palestinians’ lives in Gazas.
Participants also emphasized the importance of maintaining speed to ensure that this meeting is the beginning of a process on the right path to a future for peace and regional cooperation.
Earlier, US media reported US President Donald Trump presented his plan to end the Gaza War and released remaining hostages and rehabilitated the strip under the non-Hamas rule during a multilateral encounter with the leaders of eight Arab and Muslim countries.
Trump also promised he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, according to the reports.
Parts of the plan presented by Trump at the Tuesday meeting are based on a proposal designed by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
While the Blair plan focuses on the postwar management of Gaza, the plan outlined by Trump also outlines how the war itself would end, and imagines a ceasefire of several weeks when all the remaining 48 hostages would be released, one of the Arab diplomats said.
President Trump promised Arab leaders that he would not let Israel Annekse the occupied West Bank, Politico reported Wednesday with reference to six people who were familiar with the case.
Two people described Trump as being fixed on the subject during their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Politico reported. Two others who were familiar with the case reported Politico said the US team presented a whitebook that outlined the Trump administration’s plan to end the Gaza war, including the promise of the annexation of the West Bank.
Israel has drawn global condemnation over its military behavior in Gaza, which has caused greater destruction and where more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities. A global hunger monitor says part of the territory suffers from famine.
When he spoke exclusively with Express Pakinomist, Prime Minister Shehbaz said a ceasefire would soon be obtained in Gaza. He said he hoped “there will be no further delay in reaching the ceasefire [in Gaza]”.
In response to a question, the Prime Minister said Pakistan’s relationship with the world had improved, emphasizing that further progress would be visible in the coming days.
(With additional input from Reuters)
