Cairo / PNN /
Egypt has informed a visiting U.S. delegation of its rejection of any attempts to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, while affirming its readiness to discuss a reconstruction plan for the territory at a post-ceasefire conference.
The statement came during a meeting on Sunday in Cairo between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Monday.
Abdel-Aati listened to the senators’ impressions from their visit on Saturday to the border cities of Arish and Rafah, which neighbor Gaza. He highlighted the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, describing them as catastrophic and reaching famine levels.
He stressed the need for coordinated regional and international efforts to halt Israel’s ongoing crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with U.S. backing, has carried out what Egypt and other observers describe as acts of genocide in Gaza, including killings, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement. The violence has resulted in 63,557 Palestinian deaths, 160,660 injuries, thousands of missing persons, hundreds of thousands displaced, and famine claiming 348 lives, including 127 children.
Abdel-Aati presented the Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid delivery, and prisoner release. The plan, which includes a 60-day truce, has been accepted by Hamas but has yet to receive a response from Israel.
He emphasized the importance of the international community pressuring Israel to comply with global calls to end the aggression.
About ten days ago, Hamas reportedly agreed to a mediator-proposed deal for a 60-day ceasefire and prisoner exchange, but Israel has yet to announce its position. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, had ordered on August 20 the acceleration of Gaza’s occupation plan, drawing international warnings about potential complete destruction, increased Palestinian suffering, and forced displacement.
Abdel-Aati reiterated Egypt’s firm rejection of any plans to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land.
He also outlined the Arab-led Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza and the associated conference Egypt intends to host once a ceasefire is reached. The plan, adopted in March by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, aims to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents over a five-year period at an estimated cost of $53 billion.
However, both Israel and the U.S. have reportedly rejected the plan, favoring a proposal by the Trump administration to relocate Gaza’s population to countries such as Egypt or Jordan, which Egypt and other Arab nations oppose.
The U.S. plan, detailed in a Washington Post report, envisions U.S. control over Gaza for at least ten years, turning the territory into a tourist and technology hub while relocating Palestinians either abroad or to “restricted safe zones” within Gaza. The plan spans 38 pages and outlines post-war administration of the territory.
