Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty, addressing the fourth meeting of the Global Alliance for Implementing the Two-State Solution, an initiative launched by Saudi Arabia in October 2024, reiterated Feb. 17 that Egypt’s steadfast rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians from their historical land “is backed by the Arab world and the broader international community,” reported the Egyptian daily Al Ahram.
The meeting, hosted by Egypt, convened with the participation of Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA); Sigrid Kaag, the UN senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza and UN coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process; and with representatives from more than 35 countries, regional organizations, and international entities.
During his opening remarks, Abdelatty emphasized that any proposals advocating the displacement of Palestinians constitute a clear violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions, warning that such actions would seriously threaten regional stability. He reaffirmed that the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine “remains the only viable path to achieving lasting peace and security for all peoples of the Middle East.”
On the sidelines of the meeting, Abdelatty and Lazzarini discussed UNRWA’s evaluation of Gaza’s relief and recovery needs. They also reviewed the scale of destruction in Gaza, the estimated timeline for reconstruction, and the projected rebuilding costs.
In a separate meeting, Abdelatty and Sigrid Kaag discussed the preparations for a conference on Gaza reconstruction that Egypt intends to organize in collaboration with the United Nations, the international community, and financial institutions. Abdelatty also took the opportunity to hear UN envoy Kaag’s assessment of the current humanitarian situation in Gaza and her ongoing efforts to address the crisis.
