CAIRO: The Arab League on Sunday reaffirmed its position that the Palestinian cause is a matter of both land and people and described all attempts to displace Palestinians as violations of international law.
The organization described attempts at annexation, settlement expansion and forced displacement as forms of ethnic cleansing — attempts that had repeatedly failed in the past, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The comments were made by Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Haifa Abu Ghazaleh during the opening session of the Palestine and the Role of Civil Society conference, which opened in Cairo on Sunday.
Abu Ghazaleh, who is also head of the social affairs sector at the Arab League, highlighted the critical role of civil society in Gaza’s postwar reconstruction and called for international cooperation to ensure aid delivery, accelerate rebuilding efforts and reject all forms of displacement.
She also emphasized the urgent need for relief measures and clear mechanisms to oversee humanitarian initiatives.
Also on Sunday, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit met Jordan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi to prepare for next month’s emergency Arab summit and discuss the latest developments in Gaza.
The talks focused on consolidating ceasefire efforts and ensuring sustainable humanitarian aid delivery, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Aboul Gheit and Safadi reiterated their rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians and expressed support for Egypt’s reconstruction plan for Gaza, which would allow residents to remain in their homes.
They warned against escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank and called for an end to illegal Israeli actions. They also reaffirmed their belief that the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, remained the only viable path to lasting regional peace.
Safadi and Aboul Gheit also discussed the situation in Syria and stressed the need to ensure stability and the safety of its citizens.
