Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa participated in an Arab League summit on Gaza, marking his first attendance since ousting Bashar al-Assad. He met with international leaders, addressing rising tensions in Gaza amid a controversial proposal by former President Trump. Sharaa condemned the proposal, calling it a significant crime.
In a significant development, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa attended an Arab League summit in Cairo focused on the crisis in Gaza. This marked his inaugural appearance at such a summit after the recent ousting of Bashar al-Assad, which occurred approximately three months prior to this event. The state news agency SANA reported that Sharaa’s presence was part of an extraordinary summit addressing critical advancements concerning the Palestinian issue.
During the summit, Sharaa engaged with notable international figures, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, and European Union chief Antonio Costa, as captured in photographs released by the Syrian presidency. Sharaa, affiliated with the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), played a pivotal role in the military offensive that led to the removal of Assad, dismantling over fifty years of Assad family rule.
After being appointed interim president in January, Sharaa faced earlier restrictions due to a travel ban stemming from his association with Sanctions lists; however, a United Nations Security Council committee granted him an exception for this critical summit. The backdrop of this meeting was a controversial American proposal by former President Donald Trump, suggesting that the U.S. take over reconstruction efforts in war-torn Gaza and relocate its Palestinian inhabitants to neighboring countries.
Sharaa condemned Trump’s proposal as an egregious violation, proclaiming it to be a “very huge crime that cannot happen.” Under Assad’s regime, Syria had been suspended from the Arab League due to the government’s brutal response to pro-democracy protests initiated in 2011, which later sparked an ongoing civil war. Syria’s return to Arab League membership in 2023 marks a pivotal shift after being isolated from the bloc for several years.
In summary, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s attendance at the Arab League summit reflects Syria’s changing political landscape following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. His engagement with key international figures emphasizes Syria’s reintegration into regional discussions, particularly concerning the Palestinian crisis. Additionally, Sharaa’s denunciation of Trump’s Gaza proposal highlights the ongoing complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Original Source: www.france24.com
