Aqaba Summit Calls for Gaza Ceasefire, Two-State Solution

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (dpa)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (dpa)
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Aqaba Summit Calls for Gaza Ceasefire, Two-State Solution

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (dpa)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (dpa)

Jordan's King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed the need to increase pressure to halt the Israeli aggression in Gaza, and protect civilians. They also reiterated their commitment to a two-state solution for the Palestinian issue.

This came during their summit in Aqaba to discuss the critical situation in Gaza, during which they also emphasized their opposition to any plans to displace Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

They further rejected any Israeli plans to separate Gaza from the West Bank, adding the two entities were the basis of a future Palestinian state.

The three leaders confirmed "a complete rejection of any attempt to reoccupy parts of Gaza, and the need to enable its people to return to their homes."

The summit reiterated the importance of ensuring the permanent and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, alleviating the tragic humanitarian situation in the region.

Moreover, the leaders drew attention to hostile actions by extremist settlers in the West Bank against the Palestinian people, and violations of Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem, which could lead to the situation in the West Bank spiraling out of control, and regional escalation.

They agreed to continue working collectively, coordinating with Arab and influential countries, to find a political horizon for the Palestinian issue, achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, which would restore all legitimate rights to the Palestinian people, ensuring the establishment of their independent, sovereign state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Jordan’s King warned against any escalation that could widen the circle of war and complicate efforts to reach a ceasefire, highlighting the seriousness of the situation requiring an exceptional effort to determine the steps in the upcoming phase.

Before the tripartite summit, King Abdullah held separate meetings with the Egyptian and Palestinian presidents to discuss efforts aimed at an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.



Berlin Calls on Iran and Others to Prevent Middle East Escalation 

Israeli security forces and medics transport casualties along with local residents, at a site where a reported strike from Lebanon fell in Majdal Shams village in the Israeli-annexed Golan area on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
Israeli security forces and medics transport casualties along with local residents, at a site where a reported strike from Lebanon fell in Majdal Shams village in the Israeli-annexed Golan area on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
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Berlin Calls on Iran and Others to Prevent Middle East Escalation 

Israeli security forces and medics transport casualties along with local residents, at a site where a reported strike from Lebanon fell in Majdal Shams village in the Israeli-annexed Golan area on July 27, 2024. (AFP)
Israeli security forces and medics transport casualties along with local residents, at a site where a reported strike from Lebanon fell in Majdal Shams village in the Israeli-annexed Golan area on July 27, 2024. (AFP)

The German government has called on all parties to the Middle East conflict, in particular Iran, to prevent an escalation after a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 children and teenagers last week, a spokesperson said on Monday.

Berlin "assumes with certainty" that the deadly attack on a football field in the Golan Heights was conducted by Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said during a regular press conference.

Recent actions by the Yemen-based Houthi militias, also backed by Iran, had also contributed significantly to instability in the region in recent weeks, he added.

The strike over the weekend has raised fears of a wider conflict in the region, where tensions have intensified due to Israel's war in Gaza, which began more than nine months ago.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has talked to several people including her Lebanese counterpart in an effort to "mitigate the situation and prevent it from escalating", the spokesperson said.

German citizens in Lebanon, of which there are estimated to be about 1,300, are "urgently advised" to leave the country while still possible, the spokesperson said.

"We are very concerned about the situation of the Germans on the ground and are preparing what needs to be prepared," he added.