Lavrov: Trump's Plan for Gaza Must Be More Specific About the Fate of the West Bank

SadaNews - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Russia's wishes for the success of the upcoming summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement for the crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Lavrov emphasized in statements to representatives of Arab media that U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan addresses only the Gaza Strip and needs to be more specific regarding the fate awaiting the West Bank.

Minister Lavrov clarified that "concessions will be necessary when determining the territories of the Palestinian state, but establishing municipalities in the West Bank will not be a solution."

The minister expressed Russia's concern about the possibility of a recurring Gaza crisis and urged all concerned countries to prevent this.

He continued by stating, "Russia remains skeptical about the possibility of reaching a sustainable settlement in Gaza, as hopes for peace in the region have been dashed several times."

He added that "Trump's plan for Gaza is the best among what is currently on the table, but the Palestinian issue does not end there."

Lavrov affirmed that a long-term settlement of the conflict in the Middle East is impossible without the establishment of a Palestinian state.

In a related context, the minister indicated that the Russian-Arab summit, which was postponed due to developments regarding Gaza, will be held once new dates are agreed upon.

Regarding Russia's absence at the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, Lavrov said: "The hosts coordinated their arrangements with Washington and Arab countries and are prepared to participate in any format to achieve a peaceful settlement in the Middle East."

He pointed out that "if the participants in the summit in Egypt decide that Russia could be beneficial at some stage of implementing Trump's plan, it is ready to contribute."

Lavrov expressed Russia's hope for the implementation of all agreements related to Trump's plan for Gaza.

An international summit entitled "Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit" will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday afternoon, co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump, with the participation of leaders from more than twenty countries and organizations.

The Egyptian presidency clarified that the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit aims to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East region, and open a new page of regional security and stability.

Trump also conducted a short visit to Israel on Monday, coinciding with the implementation of the first phase of his plan to end the armed conflict that has persisted for two years in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners between Hamas and Israel.

Source: RT