Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi departed Riyadh following a Friday meeting with Gulf Arab states and Jordan to discuss the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidency on Facebook.
The meeting was convened amidst efforts by Arab nations to devise an alternative to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to transform Gaza into an international beach resort and resettle Palestinians there, including in Egypt and Jordan. Both countries have rejected this plan, citing national security concerns. However, there has been little indication of a concrete counter-proposal emerging from the Arab states.
The informal talks, initiated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saw the participation of Jordan’s King Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his national security adviser, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, and Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa. A photo released alongside the statement highlighted the key figures in attendance.
While Riyadh has not officially commented on the discussions, sources familiar with the matter informed media that the talks primarily centered on an Egyptian-led proposal that could secure up to $20 billion in funding from Gulf and Arab nations over the next three years.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both major U.S. allies, have dismissed any suggestion of displacing Palestinians from Gaza and emphasized the importance of a peace plan that envisions a Palestinian state alongside Israel.