Saudi, UN talks on developments in Gaza Strip

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan yesterday discussed, in a phone call with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Sigrid Kaag, “the developments in the Gaza Strip.”

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that “Bin Farhan received a phone call on Monday from the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Senior Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, during which they discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip, the efforts made to promote peace in the region, and to ensure the full and safe delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the Strip without any obstacles.”

The UN official’s call with the Saudi official comes two days after France, Germany, Italy, and the UK announced their support for the Arab plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza.

The foreign ministers of the four countries stressed, in a joint statement, that the plan shows a realistic path to rebuilding Gaza and promises, if implemented, to quickly and sustainably improve the catastrophic living conditions of Palestinians living in Gaza.

During an extraordinary Arab summit, known as the Palestine Summit, held last Tuesday in Cairo, officials adopted a $53 billion plan presented by Egypt on early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza as a comprehensive Arab plan.

The EU stated, in a statement published on Sunday, that the Arab plan constitutes a serious basis for discussions on the future of the Gaza Strip.

It also stressed the need for any plan for the future of Gaza to provide reliable solutions for reconstruction, governance and security, and that recovery and reconstruction efforts must be based on a solid political and security framework acceptable to both Palestinians and Israelis, and which provides peace and security for both sides.

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