Riyadh:Saudi Arabia is set to host a high-level summit on February 20, bringing together leaders from four Arab nations to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal regarding Gaza, a source familiar with the preparations revealed on Friday.
The summit will include the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, taking place ahead of an Arab League meeting in Cairo scheduled for the following week, the source added.
A separate source, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would also be in attendance.
Trump’s proposal, which calls for U.S. control over Gaza and the relocation of more than two million Palestinians to neighboring countries such as Egypt or Jordan, has sparked widespread condemnation. The plan was unveiled during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
Arab nations have responded with rare unity, rejecting the idea of mass displacement, which for Palestinians recalls the “Nakba” or catastrophe—the forced exodus of their ancestors following Israel’s creation in 1948.
Despite the backlash, Trump has hinted at withholding aid from key U.S. allies, including Jordan and Egypt, should they reject the proposal. Jordan, already home to over two million Palestinian refugees, has a population where more than half are of Palestinian descent.
In contrast, Egypt has put forward an alternative plan focusing on Gaza’s reconstruction while ensuring Palestinians remain in their homeland.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on Thursday that Washington was open to hearing new proposals from Arab governments regarding Gaza. However, he maintained that Trump’s plan remained the only viable option at present.
Back in January, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken had laid out a vision for post-war Gaza, emphasizing the need for Israel to accept a pathway to Palestinian statehood—an idea firmly opposed by the Israeli government.
Saudi Arabia and other regional powers have consistently reiterated their support for a two-state solution, with Palestine and Israel coexisting as independent nations.
Rubio departed for Europe on Friday, where he is set to join Vice President JD Vance for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This comes after Trump’s phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he expressed a willingness to engage in negotiations to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Following his European visit, Rubio is scheduled to travel to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the ongoing Gaza ceasefire, which has been in place since January 19.
