Arab leaders met informally in Riyadh on Friday to discuss their collective efforts to support “the Palestinian cause” and the latest developments in Gaza. The gathering, attended by representatives from Gulf states, Egypt, and Jordan, comes at a time of increased regional tension surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for the redevelopment of Gaza.
The Saudi state news agency, SPA, reported that the meeting focused on formulating an alternative plan to Trump’s suggestion, which calls for transforming war-torn Gaza into an international beach resort. Trump’s plan also proposes resettling Palestinians from Gaza in Egypt and Jordan, a move both countries have firmly rejected, citing national security concerns. Despite these objections, Arab states have yet to make significant progress toward presenting a viable counter-plan.
SPA did not specifically mention Trump’s proposal during the meeting. However, the talks were called by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the summit was attended by key figures from the region, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa of Bahrain.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the leaders explored a proposal from Egypt, which could potentially involve up to $20 billion in funding over three years from wealthy Gulf and Arab nations. However, there was no official confirmation of this proposal. The leaders also expressed support for Egypt’s decision to host an emergency meeting of the Arab League on March 4 to further address the situation in Gaza.
Despite differing views on how to proceed, Saudi Arabia and the UAE—two major U.S. allies—have rejected any plan that would involve displacing Gaza Palestinians. Both countries have emphasized that any solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must envision a Palestinian state co-existing peacefully alongside Israel.
The discussions reflect growing concerns within the region about the potential destabilizing effects of Trump’s plan, particularly in light of the historical context. Palestinians and other regional actors fear that the proposal could repeat the trauma of the “Nakba” or catastrophe of 1948, when nearly 800,000 Palestinians were either forced from or fled their homes during the birth of the state of Israel. Many of their descendants are still living in refugee camps in countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, over 75 years later.
