LAS Secretary General calls Israel's goal to make Gaza uninhabitable

Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS) Ahmed Abu al-Gheit said during a meeting with UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Sigrid Kaag that Israel's goal is to create uninhabitable conditions in the Gaza Strip. This was reported by Wafa news agency on February 2.

"He noted that Israel's goal is to make the Gaza Strip uninhabitable, thereby paving the way for a scenario that is not only unacceptable, but is a direct violation of international law," the publication said.

The LAS Secretary General noted that the forced displacement of Palestinians is an existential threat to the Palestinian cause. He added that the LAS is in favor of providing aid to Palestine and starting preparations for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

In addition, Abu al-Gheit emphasized that the only option for a long-term peace agreement between Israel and Palestine is a "two-state solution formula."

Vague alternatives: in Palestine, a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza has been drawn up

However, Israel is blocking attempts by the NPA authorities to return to the exclave

Earlier, on February 2, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani said that Qatar does not approve of the proposal of US President Donald Trump, who has put forward the idea of relocating the remaining homeless Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Arab countries, and is ready to help support the enclave's population.

Prior to that, on January 1, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE said after a meeting in Cairo that the Gaza Strip, as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem, are part of the Palestinian territories, so these territories should come under the control of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Among other things, Arab foreign ministers have rejected the idea of transferring Palestinians from their lands "under any circumstances and justifications."

On January 30, Trump's special Middle East envoy Steven Whitkoff said that Gaza is "uninhabitable" and its reconstruction will take 10-15 years.

On January 24, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya , said that he considers the conflict in Gaza a reflection of the West's indifference to the protection of human rights. According to him, even if the Palestinian-Israeli conflict ends now, the risk of death and injury for the children of Gaza will continue for at least 14 more years. That is how long it will take to clear the territory of unexploded shells.

The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip began on the morning of January 19. At the same time, the Palestinian Hamas movement handed over three Israeli hostages - Romy Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher - to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The next day, Israel released the first 90 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal. The hostage exchange continues.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.