Saudi Arabia to Host Urgent Arab Summit on Trump’s Gaza Plan

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to host an emergency summit on February 20, bringing together leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, sources confirmed to AFP on Friday.

According to reports from Al Jazeera, the high-level gathering will take place ahead of an Arab League meeting in Cairo the following week, where the same issue will be addressed on a broader regional scale. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to attend, as tensions over Gaza’s future continue to mount.

The summit comes amid growing concerns over the fragility of the current ceasefire in Gaza.

Officials familiar with the upcoming discussions that are to take place indicate that proposals may include the establishment of a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and a political framework aimed at ending Hamas’ rule in Gaza.

Meanwhile Trump has reportedly been exerting pressure on Egypt and Jordan to support his plan, warning that their failure to cooperate could result in cuts to vital U.S. foreign and defense aid.

In a striking development, the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, hinted at the possibility of a full-scale removal of Palestinians from Gaza, aligning with Trump’s proposal.

In an interview, Al Otaiba described the plan as “difficult but inevitable,” adding that there is “no alternative” to the large-scale expulsion and redevelopment initiative.

The UAE, a key U.S. ally in the region, was the first Gulf nation to formalize relations with Israel under the Trump-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020. However, the ambassador’s comments suggest a potential shift in regional dynamics as Arab nations weigh their response to the White House’s Gaza blueprint.

The Saudi-led summit is expected to explore an alternative approach that could counter Trump’s plan.