Arab Foreign Ministers, Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee discuss future of Palestine with US Secretary of State

CAIRO – 29 April 2024: in Riyadh at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meetings, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry along with counterparts of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Jordan, and the Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee meet with the US Secretary of State Blinken, following up on discussions and deliberations to halt the war in Gaza, and on future of the Palestinian issue.

In a conversation held with Blinken on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, he said that his visit and participation aim to discuss the war on Gaza. He said that since the 7th of October, the US is looking into wo thins, which are the need to be ready for the day after the Gaza to include what is to be done about security and administration and humanitarian and construction aid.

He continued that the way to bring an end to the war is to reach a ceasefire, adding that extraordinary efforts that have been made thanks to Egypt and Qatar.

During a penal session titled “Middle East Under Stress,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed that establishing a Palestinian state is the only solution to the Palestinian cause.

“We are willing to make a clear categorical commitment to implement the creation of the Palestinian state by resolving the Palestinian issue and breaking the cycle of violence,” he said, adding that the status quo of the Israeli occupation of Palestine should come to an end.

“As for the negotiations, […] it is a sensitive issue and there is a new proposal on the table up to the two sides that they consider and accept but there is an objective, which is a permanent ceasefire and dealing with the humanitarian conditions.”

Shoukry continued that there is a consensus in the international community to reject a military action in Rafah as there will be a subsequent humanitarian crisis that would result from such a development.

“We are hopeful that the new proposal has been taken into account on both sides to get moderation from both sides. We are waiting for a final decision,” he said.

“This is the fifth war between Hamas and Israel; and on every occasion, we have made efforts to bring tranquility and to have some understanding, which have been held up for limited period of time […] till another incident of provocation or retaliation [happens]. So, we found ourselves repeating the same [efforts] without learning from our previous lessons,” Shoukry continued.

The Foreign Minister affirmed that the aim is to establish a Palestinian State and the end of the conflict. “All sides have to show moderation and show responsibility,” he added.

Commenting on the Hamas movement, Shoukry said that the justification of Hamas has to be continued as the resistance to the occupation. “Hamas would relinquish the struggle if there is a clear commitment to establish a Palestinian state and certainly the struggle actions would necessarily desist from resistance.”

“Let us not forget that the resistance of the people towards an occupying power is a principle and shrine in the charter of the United Nations. As long as there is an occupation, there will be a justification for resisting that occupation within the international law,” the Foreign Minister said.

“We have to put in place the conditions for which Hamas becomes a partner in the process and a participant in the creation of the Palestinian state,” Shoukry added.