Final Communiqué: Arab Summit Rejects Palestinian Displacement, Endorses Gaza Reconstruction

The Arab Emergency Summit, held in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, concluded with a historic final declaration emphasizing a categorical rejection of any form of Palestinian displacement. The summit also adopted a comprehensive Arab plan for the reconstruction and development of Gaza, structured in specific phases and involving broad Arab and international participation.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, stressed that the summit reaffirmed the Arab world's firm rejection of any Israeli attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians. He emphasized that Gaza’s reconstruction must be carried out while ensuring its residents remain in their homeland, countering any plans aimed at altering the region’s demographic reality.

The final communiqué declared that Arab leaders unanimously consider a just and comprehensive peace as the only viable strategic option. This peace must guarantee the Palestinian people's right to freedom, independence, and the establishment of their sovereign state along the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Additionally, the summit reaffirmed the right of Palestinian refugees to return in accordance with international resolutions and called for the end of Israeli occupation as an integral component of any political resolution.

The summit categorically rejected any plans to forcibly displace Palestinians, whether internally or externally, labeling such actions as crimes against humanity and severe violations of international law tantamount to ethnic cleansing. Arab leaders warned that any attempts to impose such a reality would plunge the region into further turmoil, undermining both regional and global stability.

The summit approved a comprehensive reconstruction plan proposed by Egypt, developed in full coordination with the Palestinian Authority and Arab nations. The initiative aims to rehabilitate Gaza through financial, political, and material support, ensuring sustainable recovery and long-term development. The plan includes commitments from Arab states to provide the necessary funding and resources, with a focus on achieving a lasting political resolution rather than relying on temporary solutions.

The final declaration asserted that an immediate ceasefire must be the first step toward comprehensive peace. However, Arab leaders emphasized that any efforts to rebuild Gaza would be meaningless without a complete Israeli withdrawal from the territory. The summit also demanded unhindered humanitarian and medical aid access to Gaza, denouncing any Israeli-imposed restrictions as violations of international humanitarian law.

Arab leaders strongly condemned Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank, including settlement expansion, apartheid policies, home demolitions, and land confiscation. They also denounced ongoing Israeli violations in East Jerusalem and repeated military incursions into Palestinian territories. The final statement unequivocally rejected any Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank, warning that such actions could trigger further escalations and deteriorate the situation.

The summit welcomed Egypt’s initiative to host an international conference in Cairo as soon as possible, aimed at addressing Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction. The event will be held in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations. Additionally, the declaration announced the establishment of an international trust fund to receive financial pledges from donor countries and institutions, ensuring effective implementation of reconstruction projects.

The summit endorsed the Palestinian Authority’s decision to form a special committee to manage Gaza under the legitimate Palestinian government’s umbrella. Arab leaders emphasized the need for the Palestinian Authority to regain full governance of Gaza as a crucial step toward Palestinian political and territorial unity. Furthermore, the statement underlined that security in Gaza should be exclusively handled by Palestinian institutions under a unified legal framework, with support from the international community.

The Arab leaders urged the United Nations Security Council to deploy international peacekeeping forces in both Gaza and the West Bank to protect Palestinian civilians and support the broader political process for a two-state solution. The final communiqué underscored the vital role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and rejected any attempts to diminish its mandate. The summit called on the international community to increase financial and political support for UNRWA to ensure its continued operations across all Palestinian refugee camps.

Arab leaders tasked a specialized legal committee, comprising representatives from signatory states of the 1948 Genocide Convention, with examining the feasibility of legally classifying Israel’s actions—including forced displacement, systematic starvation, and large-scale destruction—as acts of genocide. This move paves the way for potential legal action against Israel at the international level.

The summit stressed the urgency of Palestinian unity under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Arab leaders welcomed ongoing political reforms in Palestine and encouraged the swift organization of national elections to ensure stronger political representation.