Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa for the first time since the power shift in Syria. Their meeting, held in Cairo during an Arab summit, focused on Gaza’s reconstruction and opposition to displacing Palestinians. Key issues included ceasefire maintenance and Israeli territorial encroachment, with both leaders asserting the Gaza Strip’s integral role in Palestine.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas engaged in a significant meeting with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in Cairo, making this their first encounter since the change of power in Syria last December. Their discussions took place during an emergency Arab summit, primarily dedicated to the reconstruction of Gaza and opposing U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal regarding Palestinian displacement.
During their meeting, Abbas and Al-Sharaa addressed critical updates concerning the occupied West Bank and affirmed the Gaza Strip’s status as an integral part of Palestinian territory. Abbas emphasized the necessity of maintaining a ceasefire in Gaza, providing humanitarian assistance, and calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region, as reported by the Palestine News Agency.
Both leaders expressed strong opposition to Israeli policies that threaten their territorial integrity. The ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the displacement of Palestinian refugees, and plans for annexation notably jeopardize the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.
With the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in December, there have been significant shifts, including Israeli occupation of areas in southern Syria, such as Mount Hermon, altering a longstanding agreement in the region. The meeting was attended by notable figures, including Hussein Al-Sheikh, the secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Diab Al-Louh, the Palestinian ambassador to Egypt.
In summary, the meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and President Ahmad Al-Sharaa marks a pivotal moment in Palestinian-Syrian relations following Syria’s political changes. Their discussions underscored a unified stance against Israeli actions that threaten Palestinian territory and emphasized critical priorities such as ceasefire maintenance and humanitarian aid. This dialogue may signal strengthened collaboration in addressing shared regional challenges.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
