Under strong security measures, the Peace Summit in Cairo began at 12:00 noon and focussed on the subject of developments in the Middle East and the risks arising for the region. As Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed, the convening of the Summit is correct and time is critical.
"We should all condemn violence in all its forms. And the violence in Israel and Gaza since October 7, since the start of the Hamas offensive," said the prime minister during his speech.
"There are innocent victims on both sides. There are civilians who were killed, under violent conditions, losing their lives," Mitsotakis added.
The Greek Prime Minister reiterated the positions of Athens that "Israel has a right to self-defence, but in accordance with international law." In fact, he said that Hamas is not the Palestinians and we should not confuse them.
The prime minister stressed that Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas has "condemned the violence from the start."
"Egypt and Jordan carry a heavy burden. No military intervention can replace a sustainable peaceful solution," Mitsotakis concluded.
The meeting of the leaders, including the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, takes place in two parts, with the second starting at 14:00 noon.
At 15:45 a lunch of the leaders is planned.
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According to what has become known, in his opening speech, the Egyptian president and host Abdel Fattah El-Sisi , reiterated the call for protection for the Palestinians.
"Where is the equality between human lives without discrimination or double standards?" he said to his interlocutors.
Sisi also reaffirmed Egypt's stance, rejecting any Israeli plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land. He said he invited leaders to agree on a road map for ending the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, but also for revitalising the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
The roadmap's goals include the distribution of aid to Gaza, but also a cease-fire agreement, to be followed by negotiations for a two-state solution, Sisi said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in his opening speech at the Cairo Peace Conference that "we will not leave, we will remain in our lands."
More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's counterattack, according to the Gaza Strip health ministry, as the humanitarian crisis escalates.
