Informal Brotherly Meeting” of Gulf, Egyptian, and Jordanian Leaders in Riyadh Tomorrow
GCC leaders, Egypt, and Jordan convene in Riyadh amid Saudi-led efforts to shape an alternative plan for Gaza’s future in response to U.S. proposals.
Watan-Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman invited the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, along with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to a meeting in Riyadh on Friday, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) citing an official source. The meeting was described as an “informal fraternal gathering.”
According to SPA, the meeting is part of the regular private gatherings that have been held for many years between the GCC leaders, Jordan, and Egypt. It aims to strengthen the close fraternal ties between the leaders and enhance cooperation and coordination among the participating countries.
Earlier on Thursday, the Egyptian presidency announced in a brief statement that President el-Sisi had departed from Spain to Saudi Arabia at the conclusion of his official visit to Madrid.
Arab Leaders Gather in Riyadh to Discuss Gaza’s Future
Originally, a meeting was scheduled in Riyadh on Thursday, bringing together the leaders of five Arab nations—Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar—along with Palestinian representatives (5+1) to formulate a response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed plan for Gaza. However, the meeting was postponed by a day and expanded to include all GCC leaders.
Saudi Arabia is spearheading Arab efforts to develop a plan for Gaza’s future in response to Trump’s proposal, which reportedly includes the displacement of its residents. The Riyadh meeting is expected to discuss preliminary ideas. According to Reuters, citing five sources, the proposals under consideration may include a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and an agreement to sideline Hamas.
Reuters also reported that 15 sources from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan have detailed the extensive Arab efforts to shape a new plan that could be presented to the U.S. president, with some not ruling out the possibility of branding it as “Trump’s Plan” to secure his approval. Additionally, an Arab government source revealed that at least four proposals have already been drafted regarding Gaza’s future, with an Egyptian proposal currently serving as the primary framework for the Arab initiative to counter Trump’s idea.
