Egyptian FM to Marco Rubio: Arab states reject Trump’s Gaza plan

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty informed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday that Arab nations firmly back the Palestinians in rejecting President Donald Trump’s proposal to displace Palestinians in Gaza and assume control of the enclave, reported Al Arabiya.

During a meeting in Washington, Abdelatty emphasized the urgency of reconstructing Gaza while ensuring that Palestinians remain in their homeland. He expressed Egypt’s commitment to working with the new U.S. administration to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region, according to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.

In a separate discussion with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Abdelatty reiterated these positions, underscoring that any proposal for Palestinian displacement is unacceptable.

Subscribe to our newsletter

For decades, the idea of removing Palestinians from Gaza has been staunchly opposed by Palestinian leadership and rejected by neighboring Arab states. This stance has only strengthened since the 2023 Gaza war, with regional governments continuing to insist on Palestinian self-determination within Gaza as part of a future independent state.

In new statements confirming the Egyptian position, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced his country's emphasis on the need to fully implement the ceasefire agreement in Gaza in its three stages.

During a phone call between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Danish Prime Minister Meta Frederiksen on Tuesday, the Egyptian president stressed the need to fully implement the ceasefire agreement, exchange the release of hostages and prisoners, and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid to end the catastrophic humanitarian situation suffered by the people of the Gaza Strip.

El-Sisi also stressed the need to start the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, with the aim of making it viable, without displacing its Palestinian population, and in a way that ensures the preservation of their rights and abilities to live on their land.