Egypt rejects U.S. proposal to displace Palestinians, calling it an “act of injustice”
By ljdevon // 2025-01-30
 
• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi firmly rejects U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion to displace Palestinians from Gaza, calling it an “act of injustice.” • Trump’s proposal, which also urged Jordan to take in Palestinians, has been widely criticized by Arab nations and Palestinian leaders. • The plan has reignited fears of ethnic cleansing and permanent displacement, issues central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

Egyptian President refuses to be bullied by Israel, US

In a resolute statement on Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared that Egypt would not participate in the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, a proposal floated by U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend. Sisi described the idea as an “act of injustice” that would threaten Egyptian national security and destabilize the region. Speaking at a press conference alongside Kenyan President William Ruto, Sisi emphasized Egypt’s commitment to a two-state solution, calling it the only viable path to peace in the Middle East. “The deportation or displacement of the Palestinian people is an injustice in which we cannot participate,” Sisi said. “The two-state solution is a historical right that can’t be bypassed.” Trump’s suggestion, made during a press briefing on Saturday, called for Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from Gaza, which he described as a “demolition site” following 15 months of Israeli bombardment. The proposal has been met with swift and widespread condemnation from Arab nations, Palestinian leaders, and human rights organizations, who view it as a thinly veiled attempt to erase Palestinian claims to their homeland.

A decades-long struggle

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has raged for over seven decades, has repeatedly centered on the question of Palestinian statehood and the right of return for refugees displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Gaza, a narrow strip of land home to 2.3 million people, has been a focal point of the conflict since Israel’s withdrawal in 2005 and the subsequent rise of Hamas, the militant group that governs the enclave. The latest escalation began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and displaced nearly the entire population, creating a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale. Trump’s proposal to “clean out” Gaza and resettle its residents in Egypt and Jordan echoes long-standing Palestinian fears of ethnic cleansing and permanent displacement. These fears are rooted in the Nakba, or “catastrophe,” of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled or fled their homes during the creation of Israel.

Arab nations push back

Egypt and Jordan, both of which have historically played key roles in mediating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have firmly rejected Trump’s suggestion. Jordan, which already hosts millions of Palestinian refugees, reiterated its opposition to any displacement. “Our stance against any displacement of Palestinians from Gaza remains firm and unwavering,” Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza and has long been a mediator in the conflict, also rejected the proposal. “We categorically reject any displacement of Palestinians from their land, be it short term or long term,” Egypt’s foreign ministry said in a statement. Palestinian leaders across the political spectrum have also condemned the plan. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told Reuters that Palestinians “will not accept any offers or solutions, even if they appear to have good intentions under the guise of reconstruction.” The rejection of Trump’s proposal by Egypt, Jordan, and Palestinian leaders shines a light on the enduring complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For decades, the question of Palestinian statehood and the right of return has been a flashpoint, and any suggestion of displacement is met with fierce resistance. Sources include: Reuters.com Reuters.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai