Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, welcomed a high-level delegation from the Fatah movement at the General Secretariat on 27 March.
The delegation included Mr. Mahmoud Al-Aloul, Vice-President of the movement, Mr. Rawhi Fattouh, President of the Palestinian National Council, Mr. Azzam Al-Ahmad, member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement, and Mr. Samir Al-Rifai, also a member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement.
Gamal Roshdy, the spokesman for the Secretary-General, stated that Mr. Aboul Gheit listened to a presentation by Fatah leaders on the latest developments in the region. This included discussions on the aggressive war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing war faced by Palestinians from occupation forces and armed extremist settlers in the West Bank.
The official spokesman quoted Mr. Aboul Gheit as emphasising during the meeting the imperative of pursuing all possible avenues to achieve Palestinian reconciliation. He underscored the importance, at this juncture, of prioritising a ceasefire and facilitating aid delivery to Gaza. Furthermore, Mr. Aboul Gheit stressed the urgency of swiftly moving towards a political settlement that paves the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state. He emphasised the central role of the Palestinian Authority and Fatah in this endeavour and underscored the need to end the geographical and political division that has plagued Palestinians since 2007, weakening their stance vis-à-vis the occupation.
Mr. Aboul Gheit highlighted that the Palestinian National Movement serves as an overarching platform for all factions, underscoring that Fatah has played an undeniable role in the Palestinian struggle over the decades. He reiterated that unity among Palestinian ranks is indispensable for realising the vision of a Palestinian state.
Mr. Aboul Gheit attentively listened to the insights of Palestinian leaders on strategies to bolster Palestinian resilience on their land, whether in the West Bank or Gaza. He conveyed the League of Arab States' unwavering support for the Palestinian Authority's endeavours to harness global momentum in advocating for Palestinian rights, stemming from the harrowing tragedy inflicted upon Gaza and its inhabitants. This catastrophe laid bare unimaginable brutality and a stark absence of humanity, eliciting shock from conscientious people worldwide.
Roshdy conveyed Mr. Aboul Gheit's assertion that today, the world is increasingly convinced of the inevitability of Palestinians achieving their right to self-determination and establishing an independent state. This conviction contrasts sharply with previous notions that the Palestinian issue could be managed through what was termed "economic peace."
Me. Aboul Gheit also discussed with the delegation the League's vision, which is based on recent engagements with influential international actors close to recognising the Palestinian state. He stressed that recognition of statehood and attaining permanent membership in the United Nations represent the correct approach for negotiating a final settlement.
