Egypt hoped, through the “peace summit” it organized on Saturday October 21, in the new administrative capital of Cairo, to forge a “international consensus” to call for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza and respect for international law. She did not succeed: the summit, attended by heads of state, ministers and diplomats, mainly European and Arab, closed without a final joint communiqué. The meeting highlighted the differences between Arab and European countries on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which promise to leave traces.
On the Arab side, several leaders were up against the “double standards” which they attribute to Western countries, which they criticize, through the unconditional support for Israel shown by the United States and various European officials, for remaining apathetic in the face of the Palestinian victims of Israeli bombings and the total siege imposed on the Gaza Strip. . ” Everywhere else [dans le monde]attack civilian infrastructure and deliberately starve an entire population [en la privant] of food, water and basic necessities would be condemned”denounced King Abdullah II of Jordan, with a tone of rare virulence.
On the European side, several officials reaffirmed, like Charles Michel, President of the Council, “Israel’s right to defend itself” After “the despicable terrorist attack that was carried out by Hamas”. But he mentioned the need for this “right to defend oneself” “ comes true[e] in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law. »
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attempted a balancing act. “Nothing can justify the reprehensible Hamas attack which terrorized Israeli civilians”, he said, in reference to the bloody incursion of the Islamist movement on October 7. Before adding: “These heinous attacks can in no way justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people”, while the Gaza Strip is subjected to a deluge of Israeli fire. The Israeli army, which promises to destroy Hamas, announced on Saturday an intensification of strikes.
Fears of regional expansion
Each side at the conference wanted more: the statement issued by the Egyptian presidency at the end of the summit, judges “incomprehensible the hesitation [occidentale] to denounce » the deaths of Palestinian civilians, including “Rights are not excluded from those covered by the rules of international humanitarian law. » The Europeans wanted a clear condemnation of Hamas. It is all the more impossible to formulate today by Arab representatives as the popularity of the movement has surged in the streets, committed to the Palestinian cause.
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