Dr. Khadir Al-Marshadi: The Arab delegation’s success in changing Washington’s position seems unlikely in the short term given the steadfast American support for Israel

Dr. Kholoud Al-Obaidi: The conference achieved two goals: a clear collective Arab stance against displacement from Gaza and a practical plan for reconstruction.

Dr. Rifat Sayed Ahmed: The card of severing relations and normalization with Israel must be used as a political pressure measure in the next stage

Dr. Munther Hawarat: The summit adhered to the principles of the two-state solution, rejected the idea of displacement, and supported the presence of a Palestinian leadership in the Gaza Strip

Aziz Al-Assa: The Arab Summit represented a state of unity of position and rallying around the Palestinian cause, which is rarely repeated in the history of summits.

Dr. Mukhaimer Abu Saada: A final solution must be found for the Gaza crisis, with continued Arab coordination to overcome differences and ensure the implementation of the reconstruction plan

Opinions and assessments of the outcomes of the emergency Arab summit in Cairo on March 4 varied between those who considered it a major achievement in terms of restoring the unity of the Arab position in response to the dangers facing the countries of the region, and not just the Palestinian issue, following the announcement of the US President’s plan to displace the residents of the Gaza Strip to Jordan and Egypt and later to Saudi Arabia under the pretext that the Strip had become an uninhabitable place, and therefore it would be difficult to rebuild it while its residents remained inside, and of course without allowing them to return after the reconstruction was completed.

The consensus of the participants in the Arab Summit, despite the absence of many Arab leaders, on the proposed Egyptian plan as an alternative to the American plan based on displacement and migration and turning the Gaza Strip into the “Riviera of the East” as Trump wants, has not yet been dealt with as a final result, in light of the American and Israeli rejection of it. There are those who fear that the Arab delegation that will meet the American president will not be able to convince him of it, in addition to the fear of American pressure on the “capable” countries, to dissuade them from providing the necessary funding for the Egyptian plan that calls for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip within a few years while keeping its residents inside.

Writers and analysts who spoke to Al-Quds considered that the Arab summit represented a case of unity of position and rallying around the Palestinian cause, and that it achieved a clear collective Arab position against the displacement from Gaza and a practical plan for reconstruction. However, they saw that the success of the Arab delegation in changing Washington’s position seems unlikely in the short term due to the steadfast American support for Israel, and therefore the card of severing relations and normalizing relations with Israel must be used as a political pressure measure in the next stage.

A unified Arab position at the theoretical level only

Dr. Khadir Al-Marshadi, President of the International Institute for Arab Renewal - Iraq, said that the extraordinary Arab summit held in Cairo succeeded in presenting an Arab position that appeared to be unified only on the theoretical level, despite the absence of many Arab leaders from a conference that should have been the focus of their attention, as it came at a dangerous turning point in the conflict on the regional and international levels.

He explained that the Egyptian plan approved by the conference was intended to be a practical alternative to the US administration's orientations, and this alternative could receive international support, as the leaders who attended the summit believe, especially with the announcement of hosting an international conference to rebuild Gaza.

But Al-Murshidi pointed out that the Arab delegation’s success in changing Washington’s position seems unlikely in the short term, given the steadfast American support for Israel and Trump’s foreign policy record on the one hand, and the problematic American and Israeli decision to disarm the resistance, and even more so to expel Hamas from Gaza, which the resistance rejects and is right to do so after the great and enormous sacrifices made by the people of Gaza.

He continued, saying: In addition to this, there is a lack of confidence in the intentions of Israel and the United States and their position of refusing to recognize the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, which is the position that came in the Israeli response commenting on the outcomes of the summit when it indicated the impossibility of implementing the two-state solution project.

Elements of Arab economic and political power

On the other hand, Al-Marshadi said, “There may be a change in the American position in only one case, which is if the Arab countries continue to exert unified pressure and use their tools and elements of economic, political and diplomatic power to sever relations and stop normalization with sincerity, effectiveness and strong will, which unfortunately is not available in the Arab reality, because it requires coordination, will, clarity and non-subordination, which are the factors absent in Arab politics.”

Al-Marshadi stressed that the real impact of the summit may appear after the implementation of the stages of the agreement between Hamas and Israel, as well as what will result from the direct negotiations with the American envoy that were announced the day before yesterday, noting that this depends on the extent of the Arab countries’ commitment to implementing their decisions at the summit and their ability to confront American and Israeli pressures.

Al-Marshadi concluded his statement to Al-Quds by emphasizing that the dilemma facing any final solution to the conflict is limited to two main factors:

1- The two-state solution, which Israel explicitly rejects.

2- The resistance weapon, which is also rejected by Israel and America.

This is based on the current political dynamics in the region, which view both factors as a basic condition for any settlement of the Palestinian issue as a whole.

Effective solidarity diplomacy

For her part, Dr. Kholoud Al-Obaidi, a specialist in political science and international law, said that the question about Arab summits has a clear answer: it is an effective diplomatic solidarity act, noting that Arab summits are an annual, periodic tradition that Arabs have followed for decades and are an effective and successful means of achieving Arab solidarity and agreement on our Arab issues.

Al-Obaidi stressed that the emergency conference called for by the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt in this context is important for the Arab countries themselves, which seek to strengthen their position, as they seek help from the Arab incubator.

She said: Palestine and Egypt sought the assistance of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the European Council, and the presence of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who stressed their rejection of displacement and support for the State of Palestine.

She pointed out that the conference achieved two goals: the first was a clear collective Arab position against the displacement from Gaza, and a practical plan for reconstruction and financial, material and political support to implement it.

Invitation to an international conference in Cairo

She added: The subsequent steps include calling for an international conference in Cairo for recovery and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip in cooperation with the United Nations and the international community, as well as calling on the Security Council to deploy international peacekeeping forces and hold legislative and presidential elections as soon as possible as part of its plan to preserve the lives of the Palestinian people.

Al-Obaidi described the meeting as successful firstly because it was practical and led by a Palestinian, Egyptian and Arab woman who has the potential and ability to rebuild.

Secondly, the financing project is available, unlike the American project, which does not have a source of financing.

Third, the conference had a good attendance, as some tried to detract from the conference due to absence.

She stressed that this issue should not please the enemy because the parties that were absent are more hardline parties, such as Algeria's position, and this is what the Foreign Minister confirmed in his speech.

She pointed out that those present represent the party that "accepts dialogue," and that there are more stringent Arab positions.

Al-Obaidi considered the absence of the King of Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and Kuwait, in my opinion, to have been coordinated with the Egyptian side for diplomatic purposes and not a lack of support for the project.

She said: The Saudi Crown Prince supported the Saudi Ministerial Council meeting and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enthusiastically supported the Arab project in Gaza.

She added: Syria's entry into the arena with a statement by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa reflects the extent of solidarity, saying, "Egypt and Syria are two wings of one bird."

Another conference in Saudi Arabia

She pointed out that another conference will be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the attendance of the Gulf States and Egypt to emphasize security solidarity, which means that the Arab position is escalating and strengthening and must not retreat.

She said: The popular position and the security necessity indicate continued adherence to the decisions of the Cairo Conference and the emphasis on continuing to deliver aid and support to our dear people in Gaza.

She believes that the conference is worrying the Zionist entity, as the reality is that the Zionist entity was unable to achieve victory in the Gaza war by military means, but it is resorting to the United States to achieve gains.

She stressed that the Zionist project is a project of ethnic cleansing and the seizure of not only Gaza, but also at a stage in which the people of the West Bank will be displaced, the idea of a Palestinian state will be abolished, and the Arabs will submit completely to the Zionist project.

She explained that the response to this project does not tolerate half-solutions. It requires an Arab stance to repel the aggression, including military intervention. She said that we must not postpone the confrontation any longer.

Al-Obaidi concluded by saying: I wish the Arab response had been stronger during the war, and the Arab support for Gaza had been greater so that we could avoid the situation that the Arab regimes are facing now. Therefore, the Arabs have no choice but to challenge the Zionist project.

Holding the summit is an achievement in itself.

In turn, the Egyptian nationalist writer and thinker Dr. Rifaat Sayed Ahmed said that holding the summit in itself is a great achievement that is primarily credited to Egypt, which is aware of the great danger resulting from the plans of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to displace Palestinians from Gaza to Sinai.

He pointed out that the summit presented a comprehensive 91-page plan, prepared by Egypt, to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents. This plan received Arab approval, which makes it an obligation on the Arab League and all Arab countries.

He explained that the most prominent outcome of the summit was the general agreement to reject displacement in parallel with supporting reconstruction, stressing that this achievement reflects a unified Arab position towards the Palestinian issue.

Sayed Ahmed added that implementing these decisions on the ground faces many difficulties, the most prominent of which is the connection of most Arab countries, especially the Gulf countries, to the United States through oil, which represents the strongest deterrent weapon in the face of Washington and Tel Aviv.

The summit represents the summit of warning.

He also called for using the card of severing relations and normalizing relations with Israel as a political pressure measure in the next stage.

Sayed Ahmed pointed out that the current thinking is wishful thinking, expressing his hope that these decisions will be implemented despite the challenges, because the issue is no longer limited to Gaza or southern Lebanon, but has become a threat to the thrones and governments of Arab countries, especially in light of Netanyahu's greedy and Trump's crazy policies.

The Egyptian writer stressed that this summit represents a warning summit, warning that failure to implement its outcomes will leave the door open for the implementation of Trump and Netanyahu's plans, calling on Arab rulers to meet and immediately begin the reconstruction of Gaza according to the Egyptian plan, which is estimated to cost about 55 billion dollars.

The Egyptian nationalist thinker concluded his statement to Al-Quds by saying: “If the Arabs do not begin rebuilding Gaza immediately, the displacement plan will begin and will be implemented individually on the Arab countries. Their strength lies in their unity and in implementing this great plan.”

A practical vision for the reconstruction of the sector

Jordanian writer and analyst Dr. Munther Hawarat believes that the Arab Summit presented a practical vision for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, with a primary focus on reconstruction.

He pointed out that the summit adhered to the previous principles related to the two-state solution, rejected the idea of displacement, and supported the presence of a Palestinian leadership in the Strip.

Dialogues explained that the problem lies in US President Donald Trump's adherence to his position, either out of ignorance or by implementing a well-thought-out Israeli plan.

He asked: How can the Arabs influence Washington's viewpoint, given its statement that there are no real mechanisms for reconstruction as long as the population is still present?

He believes that collective Arab pressure and the use of international support, such as the Europeans and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, may contribute to pushing Trump to change his position.

He added that Israel will work to obstruct the Arab move to rebuild Gaza, and may resort to re-igniting tension and aggression against the Strip under various pretexts and excuses.

Hawarat stressed that there is an Arab vision that can be crystallized and modified through negotiations, stressing the need to keep the channels of dialogue open.

Big deal for Israel

He pointed out that President Trump is seeking to achieve a great deal in favor of Israel, regardless of its impact on the Palestinians, but the Arabs have a great ability to establish constructive negotiations with the American administration, especially in light of the complexity of the field conditions in the event of a new aggression, which would be disastrous for the people of Gaza and the Palestinian cause as a whole.

He called for a serious and firm Arab position, with the use of available Arab pressure tools to influence the United States' conviction.

He concluded his interview by saying: “Although the current situation is bleak and uncomfortable, there are Arab parties that influence Washington and can use their influence to change the American position.”

Full Arab support for Palestinian demands

In turn, writer and researcher Aziz Al-Assa said that the Arab summit represented a state of Arab unity rarely repeated in the history of Arab summits, a state of rallying around the Palestinian cause, and full Arab political support for Palestinian demands for a permanent ceasefire.

Al-Assa explained that there is complete Arab consensus, including the Palestinian resistance, on the summit decisions that were directed towards rebuilding the Gaza Strip and restoring peace and stability to the Palestinians on their land, in the face of calls for displacement that the far-right organizations play to day and night.

He said: We have noticed the unity of the Israeli and American positions in rejecting the summit and its decisions, and this was reinforced by Israel’s blatant practice of starving and depriving the Gaza Strip of its water and cutting off its electricity, in full view of the summit, without anyone uttering a word.

He added: It is the responsibility of the Arab delegation heading to Washington to translate the decisions of this summit into actions at the dialogue table with the American presidency.

Al-Assa stressed that the bright side of the summit will evaporate, as if it never existed, if we submit to the American demands that always serve Israel's interests.

The Egyptian plan received broad Arab support.

Dr. Mukhaimer Abu Saada, Professor of Political Science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, believes that the outcomes of the Arab Summit were good, especially with the adoption of an Egyptian plan to confront US President Donald Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza, and to rebuild the Strip according to the vision of the US administration.

He stressed that the Egyptian plan had received broad Arab support, despite reservations from some countries such as Tunisia and Iraq, in addition to the absence of leaders of influential countries such as Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and some other Arab countries, which constitutes a problem in the Arab consensus.

He explained that the Egyptian plan aims to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents, which has received support and welcome from most Arab countries.

Abu Saada pointed out that the biggest challenge lies in the position of the US administration, as the spokesman for the US National Security Council stated that the Arab plan does not address the current problem in Gaza, which is the destruction of the Strip and its unfitness for life.

The final US response has not yet been issued.

He added: "This statement was premature, and the final response from the US administration has not yet been issued, stressing the need to wait to know the official US position."

He pointed out that the US President indicated in one of the meetings that the idea of displacement is merely a proposal, and will not be imposed by force, especially in light of the Egyptian, Jordanian, Palestinian and Arab rejection of this plan.

Abu Saada stressed that there are existing Arab differences regarding disarming Hamas and the resistance factions before reconstruction, as some Arab countries fear returning to the confrontation square after the reconstruction of the Strip, as happened in previous times.

Abu Saada concluded his statement to Al-Quds by stressing the need to find a final solution to the Gaza crisis, along with the importance of continuing Arab coordination to overcome differences and ensure the implementation of the reconstruction plan away from any displacement plans.