Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Egypt and Jordan take in Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. El-Sisi called the displacement of the Palestinian people “an injustice” and reiterated Egypt’s refusal to participate in any plan that could threaten national security.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, el-Sisi addressed the proposal put forward by Trump, which suggests that Palestinians be moved to neighbouring countries like Egypt and Jordan as part of efforts to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He emphasised that such a measure would not be tolerated, stating that it would have a significant impact on Egypt’s security.
“The deportation or displacement of the Palestinian people is an injustice in which we cannot participate,” el-Sisi said.
The Gaza Strip, home to 2.2 million people, has experienced widespread displacement since Israel launched its military offensive against the region in October 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on Israel. Despite the recent ceasefire, the idea of relocating Gaza’s residents to Egypt or Jordan resurfaced, with Trump suggesting that Palestinians might be temporarily or permanently relocated to “safer” locations.
This plan has been met with resistance from both Palestinians and neighbouring Arab countries. Critics argue that it would undermine the pursuit of Palestinian statehood and potentially destabilise the region further. Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also rejected Trump’s proposal, reinforcing that “Jordan is for Jordanians and Palestine is for Palestinians.”
El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to working with the US administration towards a peaceful resolution based on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. “The solution is the establishment of a Palestinian state,” he said, stressing that displacing Palestinians was not the answer.
The fear of permanent displacement is a recurring theme in Palestinian history, with many in Gaza fearing they may never be able to return if forced to leave. Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan, have warned that such a move would echo the Nakba of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during the creation of the Israeli state.
Both Egypt and Jordan have peace agreements with Israel and support the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. The displacement of Gaza’s population is seen as a potential obstacle to the realisation of a future Palestinian state.
Egypt and Jordan, key US allies in the Middle East, also receive substantial US aid, including Egypt’s $1.3 billion in annual military assistance, which was excluded from recent US funding cuts to global aid programmes.
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