by Our Correspondent in Doha
Five major Arab countries have written a letter to U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stating that they completely reject Trump’s intention of displacing Palestinians from Gaza.
The letter was signed by the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. They call the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza a “clear violation of international law” and state that they reject this move unequivocally.
Full Text of the Letter:
The Honorable Marco Rubio
Secretary of State
United States of America
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Secretary,
We would like to extend to you our congratulations on your appointment as Secretary of State. We wish you all success in your mission. We are confident that your vast experience, wisdom, and commitment will be instrumental in advancing our strategic partnerships and helping achieve our collective objective of regional and global security, peace, stability, and prosperity.
You assume office at a time of great challenges. But it is also a time of greater opportunities for the Middle East. Our region has recently witnessed significant changes. A ceasefire in Gaza has been reached due to the sincere and relentless efforts by many, including by the Trump administration, whose role was key in pushing the parties to the finish line.
The Middle East is already burdened by the largest displaced and refugee populations in the world. The majority of Palestinian people are among those classified as such. Furthermore, the fragility of the economic and social stability of the region is further exacerbated by ongoing conflicts. We must be vigilant not to increase the risk to regional stability by further displacement, even if temporarily, as it increases the likelihood of radicalization and social unrest in the region as a whole.
Reconstruction in Gaza should be through direct engagement with and participation of the people of Gaza. Palestinians will live in their land and help rebuild it, and they should not be stripped of their agency during reconstruction, as they must take ownership of the process with the support of the international community. There is an ongoing regional mobilization with the international community to start the reconstruction of Gaza, which will culminate in an international conference to be hosted by Egypt in partnership with the United Nations.
Syria has embarked on a new era of promise and hope. The ceasefire in Lebanon is holding, and the Lebanese people are rebuilding their state institutions and their country, determined to end negative foreign influences. Great efforts are being made to end other conflicts and sources of threats in the region. Our collective fight against terrorism continues to build on the success we have achieved in defeating this evil. Our message that regional relations must be built on mutual respect, non-interference in domestic affairs, and respect for international law is resonating stronger.
Mr. Secretary,
A just, lasting, and comprehensive Middle East is possible. A Middle East in which all its countries and peoples, including Palestinians and Israelis, enjoy their full legitimate rights and live in dignity and with hope is our collective commitment.
We have a historic opportunity for our region and the world. Peace in the Middle East can be the legacy of the Trump administration. You can count on our full support and commitment to achieve it.
Once again, we congratulate you on your appointment, and we look forward to meeting with you soon to further discuss how we can build on the strong foundations of our partnerships, move on an irreversible path to peace, and serve our collective national interests.
With warm regards,
Badr Abdelatty
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Ayman Safadi
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar
