Middle East and Europe Representatives Gathered at Cairo Peace Conference, Joint Declaration Adoption Fails

On the 21st (local time), world leaders gathered in Cairo, Egypt, to seek a resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Photo by the Egyptian Presidential Office [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Leaders and foreign ministers from key Middle Eastern and European countries gathered in Cairo, Egypt, to discuss a peaceful resolution to the armed conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, but they failed to adopt a joint declaration.

According to major international media, the "Summit for Peace" held in Cairo from 10 a.m. ended without adopting a joint declaration. The meeting was attended by European leaders including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and acting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S?nchez, as well as royal leaders from Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, and leaders from the Middle East and Africa such as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Major European countries such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Norway, along with Japan, a member of the Group of Seven (G7), sent foreign ministers. The Chinese government dispatched Middle East envoy Zhai Jun, and Russia sent its Deputy Foreign Minister.

United Nations Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, who attended the meeting, called for a ceasefire. He emphasized the need for a humanitarian ceasefire as a "measure to end this horrific nightmare," stating, "Thousands have died and over one million have become refugees in the Palestinian territories with a population of 2.4 million, resulting in a humanitarian disaster."

Western countries also urged finding a resolution through dialogue rather than force. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, said, "The main goal of today's talks is to listen to each other," adding, "More cooperation is needed to ease regional tensions, support the peace process, and address humanitarian issues." Italian Prime Minister Meloni proposed, "We must avoid the expansion of war and establish a roadmap for the conflicting parties to find a solution," while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated, "No military intervention can replace a political solution," and called for "the resumption of the peace process between Israel and Palestine."

The stance of Middle Eastern and African leaders was tougher than that of Western countries. They strongly criticized the ongoing civilian casualties during the armed conflict and voiced support for protecting Palestinian rights. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain said, "There can be no stability in the Middle East without guaranteeing the rights of Palestinians." King Abdullah II of Jordan argued, "The message the Arab world is hearing is that Palestinian lives are not as important as Israeli lives," and insisted, "Israeli leadership must realize that a state built on injustice cannot prosper."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.