Egypt’s President el-Sisi, after welcoming the leaders and officials present at the summit, says “today we are gathered by a painful reality […] our region is faced by painful challenges”, Al Jazeera reports.

“Humanity lost its virtue in Gaza,” he said. “The people in Gaza who lost loved ones, those who were widowed orphaned are looking up to you to restore hope and last and permanent peace.”

El-Sisi added that the Gaza plan would ensure Palestinians “remain on their land”.

El-Sisi added that he wants the Gaa reconstruction plan to be adopted at today’s summit.

“Peace cannot be maintained by force,” he said. “We will also be providing security training to security officials in Gaza.”