Syria’s Interim President Attends Arab Summit on Gaza
Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim president of Syria, attended his first Arab League summit in Cairo, focusing on the Palestinian issue. He met with various world leaders, reflecting Syria’s recent political shifts after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa criticized a controversial proposal for Gaza, highlighting regional tensions and the country’s reentry into Arab League discussions after years of isolation.
On Tuesday, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim president of Syria, attended an extraordinary Arab League summit in Cairo, marking his first participation since he assumed leadership following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad less than three months prior. This summit focused on important developments regarding the Palestinian issue, as reported by the state news agency SANA.
During the summit, President Sharaa engaged in discussions with prominent officials, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, and European Union Chief Antonio Costa. This meeting comes after Sharaa’s Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, succeeded in a swift offensive that resulted in the removal of Assad from power on December 8, thereby ending over fifty years of his family’s domination.
Following his appointment as interim president in January, Sharaa has been navigating Syria’s re-entry into the Arab League after its suspension stemming from Assad’s brutal crackdown on protests that escalated into a civil war in 2011. The country was reinstated in the League this year after years of being marginalized from regional diplomacy.
On the logistical side, a UN Security Council committee granted Sharaa a travel ban exemption, permitting him to participate in the Cairo summit despite his presence on a sanctions list. This summit was influenced by international reactions to a controversial proposal from then-President Donald Trump concerning the future of Gaza.
Sharaa criticized Trump’s suggestion to take control of Gaza and redevelop it, labeling it as “a very huge crime that cannot happen.” This reflects ongoing tensions regarding the management and settlement of Palestinian territories in light of conflicts in the region.
In conclusion, the attendance of Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Arab League summit in Cairo is significant within the context of Syria’s recent political transformations and reinstatement into regional discussions. His meetings with key international leaders underscore the importance of addressing the Palestinian issue amidst diplomatic recoveries following years of isolation. The condemnation of external proposals regarding Gaza further illustrates the complex dynamics surrounding the region’s peace efforts.
Original Source: www.france24.com
