Egypt Daily News – President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi delivered a comprehensive speech during the 34th Arab League Summit held in Baghdad, reaffirming Egypt’s unwavering position on the Palestinian issue and addressing various regional crises.
President El-Sisi announced that Egypt intends to organize an international conference for early recovery and the reconstruction of Gaza once the Israeli aggression stops. He stated that the Palestinian cause is going through one of its most dangerous and sensitive phases, accusing Israel of committing systematic crimes aimed at erasing the Palestinian presence in Gaza through widespread destruction and forced displacement.
He noted that Israel’s war machine has spared neither children nor the elderly, destroying infrastructure and using hunger and denial of healthcare as weapons. Nearly two million Palestinians have been displaced within Gaza, in what he described as a clear violation of international laws and norms.
President El-Sisi emphasized that peace in the Middle East will remain out of reach without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He stressed that normalization between Israel and Arab countries cannot substitute for resolving the core issue of Palestine in accordance with international resolutions.
He said that even if Israel succeeded in normalizing ties with all Arab states, just and lasting peace in the region would remain elusive without addressing Palestinian rights and sovereignty.
President El-Sisi began his remarks by thanking Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and the Iraqi people for their hospitality and congratulated them on hosting the summit. He also expressed appreciation to Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the former summit chair, for his leadership and efforts in supporting Arab causes.
Addressing broader regional challenges, El-Sisi said the Arab world is facing unprecedented circumstances that require unity and collective determination. He called on Arab leaders and peoples to act with one voice and shared purpose to safeguard the security and dignity of their nations.
On Sudan, El-Sisi warned of the grave danger threatening its unity and stability. He urged immediate efforts to reach a ceasefire, ensure humanitarian access, preserve the country’s unity and institutions, and reject any attempts to form parallel governments outside the legitimate authority.
Regarding Syria, he stressed the need to use the lifting of U.S. sanctions to benefit the Syrian people, complete an inclusive political transition, and preserve Syria’s unity and sovereignty. He called for the end of terrorism and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Golan Heights and all occupied Syrian territories.
For Lebanon, President El-Sisi said the only way to ensure stability is to implement the ceasefire agreement and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, withdraw Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, respect Lebanese sovereignty, and support the Lebanese army in fulfilling its responsibilities.
The 34th Arab League Summit and the 5th Economic and Social Development Summit were held in Baghdad under the slogan “Dialogue, Solidarity, and Development.” This is the fourth Arab League Summit hosted by Iraq. The agenda focused on urgent regional issues, including the ongoing war in Gaza, as well as the crises in Sudan, Syria, and Libya, amid calls for greater Arab unity and cooperation in the face of growing challenges.
