Arab Nations at World Economic Forum Condemn Israeli Attack on Rafah

The meeting involved extensive discussions about the Egyptian/Qatari mediation efforts in cooperation with the United States, and the coordination of Arab positions on this matter.

During the World Economic Forum in Riyadh on Saturday, the foreign ministers of six Arab nations, Egypt included, raised concerns about a potential Israeli ground operation in Palestinian Rafah, as reported by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry joined a crucial meeting on Saturday evening with officials from six Arab nations to discuss the latest updates in Palestine and work towards bringing an end to the conflict in Gaza.

Foreign Ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, and Palestine were also in attendance.

During the meeting, Shoukry reiterated the warning about the risks of an Israeli assault on the Palestinian city of Rafah, and its potential catastrophic humanitarian consequences for over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians and harm to regional security.

Participants in the meeting reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land.

The officials’ discussions addressed ways to implement the Arab vision for ending the war, dealing with the humanitarian consequences, and reaching a serious political horizon to support the Palestinian cause.

Shoukry emphasized the necessity of implementing the two-state solution according to international resolutions and the importance of international recognition of the state of Palestine and its full membership in the United Nations.

The six foreign ministers are planning to hold a coordination meeting with the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on 29 April to follow up on stopping the war, addressing the humanitarian situation, and discussing the future of the Palestinian issue.