The recent "Summit for Peace" held in Cairo aimed to establish a diplomatic breakthrough towards a ceasefire in Gaza, but ultimately revealed the deep divisions between Arab and Western states regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The summit, attended by Arab leaders and Western delegates, highlighted the ongoing disagreement over condemning Israel and placing responsibility for the escalation on Hamas.

One anonymous Arab official stated that Western states refused to condemn Israel, causing a major point of contention. Instead, they sought a statement that held Hamas responsible for the recent escalation of violence, a request that Arab states rejected. The differing views on condemning Israel may have been influenced by the ongoing negotiations for the release of hostages abducted by Hamas, which could have been jeopardized if Arab countries signed alongside nations supporting "Israel's right to defend itself."

Although several Arab leaders expressed condolences for the loss of Israeli civilian lives, they refrained from holding Hamas accountable. This reluctance was attributed to the discomfort Arab states would face with their own people if they were to condemn Hamas. The Cairo Summit exemplified the deepening fault lines between the West and the Arab world, illustrating the persistent nature of the Israeli-Palestinian question and the challenges it poses in finding a resolution.

The summit yielded only one statement, released by the Egyptian presidency with the approval of Arab attendees. The statement acknowledged the failure of decades-long band-aid diplomacy to find a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue. It also underscored the urgency in providing aid to Palestinians in Gaza, who have been facing bombardment and a siege by Israeli forces following Hamas's devastating onslaught on October 7.

Amidst the ongoing conflict, the death toll in Gaza has risen sharply, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 4,600 Palestinian fatalities. However, the accuracy of this number cannot be independently verified and is believed to include Hamas terrorists and gunmen, as well as victims of misfired Palestinian rockets landing within the Strip. Israel has launched an offensive aimed at destroying Hamas's infrastructure, emphasizing its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties while targeting areas where Hamas operates.

The Cairo Summit and its subsequent revelations serve as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted divide between the Arab world and the West when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite recent diplomatic developments, such as the Abraham Accords, which saw countries like Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain normalizing relations with Israel, popular anti-Israel sentiment remains strong in many Arab countries. Mass protests held across the region demonstrate that solidarity with Palestinians continues to be an issue capable of mobilizing political action and rallying consensus.

The failure of the Cairo Summit to bridge this divide and the remaining global silence on Palestinian suffering, as highlighted by King Abdullah II of Jordan, underscore the need for renewed efforts towards finding a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The region's most fundamental peace treaty between Egypt and Israel hangs in the balance, and the urgency to address the Palestinian question remains as prominent as ever.

Title: "Cairo Summit Reveals Deep Rifts in Arab-Western Relations over Israeli-Palestinian Conflict"