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EGYPT PLANS TO “present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction” of the Gaza Strip that ensures Palestinians remain on their land, the Egyptian foreign ministry has said.
The statement came a day after US President Donald Trump said he could “conceivably” halt aid to Egypt and Jordan if they refuse to cooperate with his plan to take over the Gaza Strip and displace its population to their countries.
The foreign ministry said Egypt “hopes to cooperate” with Trump’s administration on the matter, with the goal of “reaching a fair settlement of the Palestinian cause”.
It said its plan would provide for the reconstruction of Gaza “in a clear and decisive manner that ensures the Palestinian people stay on their land, and in line with the legitimate and legal rights of this people”.
During a meeting with Trump in Washington on Tuesday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II had said Egypt would present a plan that Arab leaders would discuss at coming talks.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi – who exchanged invitations for state visits with Trump last month, which have not yet been scheduled – urged the reconstruction of Gaza “without displacing Palestinians”.
During a phone call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Sisi “stressed the necessity of starting the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip… without displacing Palestinians and in a way that ensures the preservation of their rights… to live on their land”.
Sisi also said the establishment of a Palestinian state was “the only guarantee for achieving lasting peace” in the region, according to a statement from his office.
Trump has proposed the US taking over Gaza and clearing Palestinians out, envisioning rebuilding the devastated territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling Palestinians elsewhere, namely Egypt and Jordan.
His remarks have sparked a global backlash and Arab countries have condemned the proposal, insisting on a two-state solution of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
On Monday, Egypt’s foreign ministry rejected “any compromise” that would infringe on Palestinians’ rights, including their right to “remaining on the land”, in a statement issued shortly after Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with his US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington.
Trump faced pushback from the Jordanian King when he doubled down on his idea of exiling Palestinians and placing a rebuilt Gaza under “US authority”.
“I reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This is the unified Arab position. Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all,” Abdullah said on social media after the talks.
However, he told Trump that Egypt was working on a plan for how countries in the region could “work” with Trump on his shock proposal.
The Jordanian monarch also appeared to offer a sweetener to Trump, who the day before the visit floated the possibility of halting US aid to Jordan if it did not take in refugees.
“One of the things that we can do right away is take 2,000 children, cancer children who are in a very ill state. That is possible,” Abdullah said as Trump welcomed him and Crown Prince Hussein in the Oval Office.
Trump replied that it was “really a beautiful gesture” and said he didn’t know about it before the Jordanian monarch’s arrival at the White House.
Abdullah urged patience and said that Egypt was coming up with a response and that Arab nations would then discuss it at talks in Riyadh.
“Let’s wait until the Egyptians can come and present it to the president and not get ahead of ourselves,” Abdullah said.
Trump retreated from his previous talk of an aid halt to Jordan and Egypt, saying: “I don’t have to threaten that. I do believe we’re above that.”
However, he kept pushing his plan to “own” Gaza and place it under “US authority,” despite the fact that it is home to more than two million Palestinians who want their own sovereign state.
“We don’t have to buy. We’re going to have Gaza,” Trump said.
“We’re going to take it, we’re going to hold it, we’re going to cherish it.”
But Trump, who made his fortune as a real estate tycoon did however deny that he would seek to personally develop property in Gaza. “No. I’ve had a great career in real estate,” he said.
The meeting came as the Gaza ceasefire appears increasingly fragile, after Trump warned on Monday that “all hell” would break out if Hamas fails to release all hostages by Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already threatened to end the ceasefire in Gaza this weekend if Hamas does not proceed with returning hostages.
Israel intends to resume “intense fighting” in Gaza if Hamas does not return hostages by noon on Saturday.
Trump said he doubted that the Palestinian militant group would abide by the ultimatum – but played down the risk of a longer threat to efforts to create a lasting peace between Israel and Hamas.
“It’s not going to take a long time,” Trump said. “A bully is the weakest person, and they’re bullies. Hamas is bullies.”
King Abdullah is a key US ally but last week rejected “any attempts” to take control of the Palestinian territories and displace its people.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is expected to visit the White House later this week, urged on Tuesday the reconstruction of Gaza “without displacing Palestinians.”
Analysts say the issue is an existential one for Jordan in particular.
Half of Jordan’s population of 11 million is of Palestinian origin, and since the establishment of Israel in 1948, many Palestinians have sought refuge there.
But Jordan is also keenly aware of the economic pressure Trump could exercise. Every year, Jordan receives around $750 million in economic assistance from Washington and another $350 million in military aid.
On social media after the Trump talks, Abdullah stressed that his “foremost commitment is to Jordan, to its stability and to the well-being of Jordanians.”
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