Arab leaders are set to convene in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday to discuss a response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to "take ownership" of the Gaza Strip and permanently displace its inhabitants.

The summit, which was organized at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will bring together leaders from Gulf states, Egypt, and Jordan to address the controversial proposal. According to Saudi state news agency SPA, the meeting is being held within the framework of “close brotherly relations” among the participating nations.

A Saudi security source told SPA that discussions will focus on an Egyptian proposal regarding the issue. The proposal was first mentioned during a February 11 meeting between Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Trump in Washington, where it was stated that Egypt would put forward a plan.

Trump recently suggested that the United States should take control of Gaza and that its over 2 million Palestinian residents should be relocated to neighboring Jordan and Egypt. The proposal has drawn widespread condemnation across the Muslim world and internationally, with critics denouncing it as a violation of Palestinian sovereignty and human rights.

As Arab leaders prepare to discuss a collective response, the international community continues to monitor the situation closely. (ILKHA)