Ashraf AboArafe
On 20 July 2025, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, received Ms. Reem Alabali-Radovan, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, at the League’s headquarters in Cairo.
The meeting focused on the latest humanitarian and political developments in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israeli aggression and its severe consequences on the civilian population.
Ambassador Zaki emphasized the urgent priority of reaching an immediate ceasefire as a first step toward a sustainable and lasting agreement that ensures peace and stability in the region. He stressed that such an agreement would enable the launch of early recovery projects and enhance international efforts to reconstruct the Gaza Strip, following the extensive destruction caused by the Israeli assault.
He highlighted the Arab Gaza Reconstruction Plan, endorsed by Arab leaders in early March 2025, describing it as a comprehensive framework that begins with relief and early recovery, and progresses toward full reconstruction. He underlined that the plan also safeguards the right of the Palestinian people to remain on their land and explicitly rejects any plans or attempts at forced displacement.
The discussion also touched on the upcoming Two-State Solution Conference, scheduled to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York at the end of July. Ambassador Zaki underscored the importance and symbolism of convening the conference at such a critical moment, especially in light of the escalating crisis since October 2023. He confirmed the Arab League’s active and constructive engagement in the conference, including its leadership of one of the key working groups, in partnership with the European Union.
For her part, Minister Radovan reiterated Germany’s interest in contributing to peace and security efforts in Gaza. She expressed her country’s support for the Arab Reconstruction Plan and reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to working with regional and international partners to ensure that aid is delivered effectively and equitably. The Minister also reaffirmed Germany’s steadfast support for the two-state solution and its rejection of any Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories, whether in Gaza or the West Bank.
