ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid arrived in Cairo on Monday to attend the Arab Summit, scheduled for Tuesday, which will focus on the “developments in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian territories,” according to a statement by the Iraqi presidency.
The Iraqi president is “accompanied by a number of government officials, advisors, and political figures,” the statement added.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein had arrived in Cairo a day earlier on Sunday, and met with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty.
The Iraqi foreign ministry on the same day quoted Hussein as reaffirming to Abdelatty “Iraq’s unwavering support” for the Palestinians in their pursuit of “legitimate rights” and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Hussein also reiterated Baghdad’s “rejection” of any further displacement of the Palestinian people, including those in Gaza.
Abdelatty announced on Sunday the completion of Egypt's comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave which was devastated by the 15-month war with Israel.
The plan notably contradicts an early February proposal by US President Donald Trump to “take over” Gaza and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” expelling its residents to Jordan and Egypt.
Trump’s proposal then faced widespread global criticism, especially from Amman and Cairo, who rejected any plan to relocate Gazans to their countries.
Describing Trump’s proposal as a “declaration of war,” Palestinian officials also urged Arab states to take a firm stance against it at the Arab League summit on Tuesday.
Abdelatty explained on Sunday that Arab state representatives are set to “hold intensive talks with major donor countries” once the Gaza reconstruction plan is adopted at the summit.
The Arab League summit notably comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Movement, Hamas.
Israel on Sunday halted all humanitarian aid into Gaza to pressure Hamas to extend the first phase of a fragile ceasefire agreement, which ended on Saturday. Tel Aviv says it wants to extend the first phase to secure the release of hostages currently held by Hamas.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect in mid-January, following 15 months of war that began after Hamas launched a large-scale incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,170 people, according to Israeli figures.
Israel responded with a massive offensive in Gaza, killing more than 46,000 people, mostly civilians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
