Egyptian leader el-Sisi to Donald Trump: Removing Gazans to Egypt "intolerable"
Egyptian leader Abd al-Fattah el-Sisi responded to President Donald Trump's plan to evacuate the Gazan population to Egypt and Jordan while the Gaza Strip is rebuilt.
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Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi responded today (Wednesday) to President Donald Trump's plan to remove the Gazan population to Egypt and Jordan until the area could be rebuilt, calling it "intolerable" and a threat to Egyptian national security, according to Channel 14 News.
El-Sisi made this comment following criticism in Egypt that he did not directly address Trump's plan but rather criticized it via a third party.
Jordan has similarly rejected the idea that it become a haven, even temporarily, for displaced Gazans while the war-torn Strip is rebuilt.
President Trump, on the other hand, has repeatedly expressed optimism regarding the possibility of his transfer plan, playing up his friendship with el-Sisi and saying the US has done much for him and his country.
The Netanyahu government has generally remained silent on the transfer plan, and those asked about it interviews tend to simply refer to Trump and note that ideas that often sound crazy end up happening under his administration.
One exception to this is Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who gave his wholehearted support to the idea and even said he's trying to get the rest of the government on board with making it a reality:
"I heard yesterday President Trump's statements about Arab countries needing to absorb one and a half million refugees from Gaza. After years of politicians trying to impose their fantasies on reality, finally a US President recognizes reality - Gaza is a swamp of terror that produces suffering both for Israeli citizens and Gaza residents themselves.
"For years, Arab countries have preserved this problem as a weapon against the State of Israel, and there is no doubt that in the long term, encouraging emigration is the only solution that will bring peace and security to Israeli residents and also ease the suffering of Arab Gaza residents.
"I am working with the Prime Minister and Cabinet to prepare an operational plan and ensure that this vision of President Trump is implemented in reality. There's no need to get excited about Egypt and Jordan's weak opposition to the plan; we saw yesterday how Trump led a move against Colombia to expel migrants despite its opposition - when he wants something, it happens."