Opinion | Egypt’s Resolve: Defying Trump’s Displacement Plan

The proposal was as audacious because it was alarming. In January, when US President Donald Trump steered the compelled displacement of Palestinians from Gaza into Egypt and Jordan, it was greater than only a reckless comment – it ignited a political firestorm. The notion of uprooting a whole inhabitants and reshaping the area’s demographic panorama drew fast and widespread condemnation. For many, it represented one more try and erase Palestinian identification and impose a brand new actuality that serves solely the pursuits of energy politics, in blatant defiance of worldwide legislation and historic justice.

Egypt and Jordan responded swiftly with a resolute rejection. Cairo and Amman made it clear that any try and forcibly expel Palestinians wouldn’t solely represent a gross violation of worldwide norms but in addition pose a direct risk to their very own nationwide safety. They warned that such a transfer would inflame tensions, destabilise the area, and push an already fragile scenario in the direction of uncontrollable chaos. The Arab world, too, spoke with a unified voice. The League of Arab States strongly rejected any plans geared toward depopulating Palestinian territories, emphasising that any simply and lasting settlement should be based mostly on mutual settlement and be in accordance with worldwide legitimacy.

Consequently, Egypt has intensified its efforts to current alternate options that reinforce Palestinian resilience, making certain that no unjust scheme can undermine the way forward for their trigger or threaten the soundness of the area.

Egypt’s Core Principles Regarding the Palestinian Displacement Proposal

During a joint press convention with Kenyan President William Ruto in Cairo on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Egypt’sPresident Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi unequivocally rejected Donald Trump’s proposal for the compelled displacement of Palestinians. He condemned the plan as “an injustice in which Egypt will not partake.” This stance displays Egypt’sunwavering international coverage ideas on the Palestinian situation, centred on the next key pillars:

• Resisting Attempts to Undermine the Palestinian Cause: From the outset of Israel’s navy marketing campaign in Gaza, Egypt recognized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s technique as an effort to take advantage of the battle to undermine Palestinian nationwide aspirations. In response, Cairo adopted a resolute place towards collective punishment and firmly opposed any compelled displacement of Palestinians into Sinai, recognising that such a transfer would set off a brand new Nakba, doubtlessly erasing Palestinian identification and demographic presence. Egypt mobilised its diplomatic and safety equipment to mediate a direct cessation of hostilities, underscoring that the continuing offensive constituted a grave violation of Palestinian rights. In parallel, Cairo spearheaded negotiations for a prisoner change between Israel and Hamas, securing the discharge of Israeli captives in change for a ceasefire, marking a essential breakthrough in de-escalation efforts.
• Bolstering Humanitarian Assistance in Gaza: In response to the worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza, Egypt applied a complete technique to facilitate support supply. Al-Arish Airport in North Sinai emerged as a key logistical hub for receiving and dispatching worldwide humanitarian support to Gaza. Moreover, Cairo expanded provide routes through the Al-Auja and Kerem Shalom crossings to make sure a sustained movement of essential provides into the besieged enclave. Egypt additionally collaborated with regional and world actors, together with Jordan and the UAE, to coordinate a number of humanitarian airdrops concentrating on northern Gaza, the place entry to assist was severely restricted. Significantly, on 13 February, Egypt efficiently organized the entry of cellular dwelling models, a extra viable and dignified different to tents, offering non permanent shelter for displaced Palestinians.
• Egypt’s Role and Engagement with Palestinian Factions: Egypt stays the principal mediator in all negotiations associated to the Palestinian situation, leveraging its strategic geographic place and diplomatic affect. It has persistently performed a decisive position in ceasefire agreements, prisoner swaps, and broader peace initiatives. Crucially, Egypt is the one Arab state sustaining open and direct communication channels with all Palestinian factions, together with Hamas, owing to its historic, safety, and political ties with these teams.

Egypt’s Recent Diplomatic Moves

Egypt has intensified its diplomatic efforts to deal with the continuing disaster in Gaza, firmly rejecting any proposals for the compelled displacement of Palestinians whereas advocating for a sustainable decision. Cairo has engaged in high-level talks with regional and worldwide companions to strengthen its stance and push for fast humanitarian and political measures.

• Egypt-Jordan Coordination Against Displacement – February 12: On February 13, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt and King Abdullah II of Jordan held an important telephone name to debate the most recent developments in Gaza. Both leaders reaffirmed their rejection of any plan to forcibly displace Palestinians, emphasising that such actions would violate Palestinian rights and destabilise the area. They underscored the pressing want for Gaza reconstruction whereas making certain the Palestinian inhabitants stays of their homeland. Additionally, the 2 leaders burdened the significance of sustaining the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, securing the discharge of captives, and facilitating humanitarian support deliveries.
• Egypt Postpones Al-Sisi’s Visit to Washington – A Clear Message to the US: In a decisive transfer, Egypt indefinitely postponed President Al-Sisi’s deliberate go to to Washington, signalling its sturdy opposition to latest USand Israeli rhetoric relating to Gaza. Cairo additionally firmly rejected recommendations that it allocates land to accommodate displaced Palestinians. The Egyptian authorities conveyed its displeasure over statements made by U.S. President Trump regarding attainable sanctions, demanding official clarifications from Washington. This diplomatic manoeuvre highlights Egypt’s agency place in defending Palestinian sovereignty and rejecting any exterior pressures that would alter Gaza’s demographic panorama.
• Egyptian Foreign Minister’s Visit to Washington – Strategic Talks with the US: Amid heightened tensions, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty visited Washington on February 10, the place he held high-level discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s unwavering help for Palestinian rights and its rejection of any compelled displacement. He emphasised {that a} simply and lasting peace should be based mostly on the two-state resolution, making certain Palestinians’ proper to determine an unbiased state. Egypt reaffirmed its dedication to coordinating with the U.S. administration to finish Israeli aggression, speed up humanitarian aid efforts, and rebuild Gaza with out altering its demographic construction.
• Egypt’s Diplomatic Outreach – Strengthening the Arab Position Under President Al-Sisi’s directives, Foreign Minister Abdelatty engaged in intensive consultations together with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, and Sudan. These discussions targeted on unifying the Arab stance towards displacement plans, mobilizing worldwide help for Palestinian rights, and addressing the worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the West Bank.
• Egypt’s Call for De-escalation within the West Bank Cairo has additionally strongly condemned Israeli navy operations within the West Bank, urging a direct cessation of hostilities. Egyptian officers have burdened the necessity for pressing humanitarian measures, together with unimpeded support entry into Gaza and broader diplomatic efforts to comprise regional instability.

Through these strategic diplomatic strikes, Egypt continues to place itself as a key think about regional stability. By rejecting compelled displacement, main reconstruction efforts, and fascinating in high-level negotiations, Cairo stays steadfast in its dedication to defending Palestinian rights and making certain a sustainable path in the direction of peace.

Upcoming Arab Summit

Egypt is ready to host an emergency Arab summit on February 27, amid a pivotal second within the Palestinian disaster. The summit comes as mounting warnings floor relating to US-Israeli plans to forcibly displace Gaza’s inhabitants, a transfer that threatens Palestinian rights and regional safety. This high-stakes gathering will check the Arab world’s capability to formulate a unified response to one of the urgent geopolitical challenges in a long time.

• The Urgency of Decisive Action: The present scenario calls for concrete choices from Arab leaders reasonably than mere statements of condemnation. Many imagine that US President Donald Trump’s strategy displays an assumption that Washington can unilaterally dictate world affairs, underscoring the necessity for a robust and coordinated Arab response. The debate now centres on how far Arab states are keen to go in countering these displacement plans and defending Palestinian sovereignty.
• Strategic Options on the Table: Among the potential measures being thought of is the suspension of the Abraham Accords, and the normalisation agreements between Israel and several other Arab states. Additionally, there are discussions about the potential of Arab nations withdrawing their ambassadors from Israel in protest. Egypt, a key regional participant, has already hinted at reconsidering its peace treaty with Israel ought to compelled displacement efforts proceed. Such strikes would characterize a major diplomatic shift, signalling a recalibration of Arab-Israeli relations in response to the disaster.
• The Riyadh Five-Nation Summit: Preparing a Unified Arab Response: Before the broader Arab summit, leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan are set to fulfill in Riyadh on February 20 to deliberate on a collective response to Trump’s Gaza plan. This high-level session will concentrate on creating a reconstruction proposal for Gaza—one which explicitly guidelines out any compelled displacement of its residents. The assembly is predicted to refine a technique that shall be introduced on the bigger summit in Cairo, making certain that Arab states enter the negotiations with a cohesive and well-defined place.
• A Defining Moment for Arab Diplomacy: The upcoming summit in Cairo isn’t just one other diplomatic gathering—it’s a second of reckoning for the Arab world. The choices made in these conferences is not going to solely form the way forward for the Palestinian trigger but in addition outline the Arab area’s capability to claim its political affect on the worldwide stage. Failure to take decisive motion may embolden additional unilateral strikes by exterior powers, whereas a robust and united stance may reinforce the Arab world’s position as a key stakeholder in the way forward for the Middle East.

In conclusion

Egypt’s agency rejection of the compelled displacement of Palestinians underscores its dedication to regional stability, Palestinian sovereignty, and worldwide legislation. Through decisive diplomacy and humanitarian efforts, Cairo has positioned itself as a key mediator within the disaster, working to stop unjust demographic adjustments that threaten Palestinian nationwide aspirations. The upcoming Arab summit in Cairo presents an important alternative for unified motion, the place Arab states ought to translate condemnation into concrete measures. Potential diplomatic shifts, together with reconsidering ties with Israel, may redefine regional dynamics. Egypt’s proactive position in defending Palestinian rights and fostering Arab unity reaffirms its standing as a stabilizing drive within the Middle East.

Ambassador Mohamed Orabi is the Former Foreign Minister of Egypt