Trump Endorses Egyptian Gaza Plan After Jordan King Meeting
Egypt and Jordan have persuaded President Trump to support an Egyptian plan for Gaza, moving away from a policy advocating forced displacement of Palestinians. Following King Abdullah II’s meeting with Trump, there is a growing focus on Arab-led governance for Gaza, with substantial financial commitments required for reconstruction efforts.
Egypt and Jordan have reportedly swayed President Donald Trump to support an Egyptian plan for Gaza instead of the forced displacement of Palestinians. This was confirmed by a senior Egyptian official, who commented on the significance of King Abdullah II of Jordan’s recent meeting with Trump. The official stated that the meeting was instrumental in convincing Trump to abandon his controversial proposal.
The Egyptian official, who requested anonymity, highlighted that King Abdullah did not confront Trump directly during their meeting but cautioned him about the potential consequences of his plan, which could incite Islamic extremism and destabilize pro-American regimes in the region. Trump was perceived as receptive to these warnings.
Following the positive development from the meeting, Egypt secured Trump’s trust further by negotiating the release of six captives from Hamas. This development was linked to Israel permitting reconstruction materials to enter Gaza, a move that Hamas had previously indicated would lead to additional actions regarding captive releases.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is reportedly scheduled to visit Riyadh to discuss post-war governance in Gaza, a move reported by Reuters. Meanwhile, Trump’s previous calls for the US to take control of Gaza to forcibly relocate Palestinians had faced backlash both domestically and internationally, raising concerns among Arab allies regarding its implications.
Analysts are debating whether Trump genuinely desires to claim Gaza or merely threatened a takeover to leverage concessions from Arab nations. Support appears to be shifting towards the Egyptian strategy for Gaza, especially as influential U.S. lawmakers express reluctance about direct American involvement.
Discussions about the management of post-war Gaza governance have included proposals from Arab states and the Palestinian Authority (PA), suggesting that a transitional government may need to be established without Hamas’ direct involvement. The Egyptian official asserted that Hamas is willing to yield governance to another Palestinian body which does not incorporate PA officials from the West Bank.
Crucially, the Egyptian approach aims to prevent armed factions from maintaining power indefinitely, insisting on a structured peace with Gulf states involved in reconstruction efforts. It is projected that restoring Gaza and the wider region will necessitate upwards of $50 billion, with an urgent initial requirement of $20 billion within three years.
In summary, following King Abdullah II’s diplomatic engagement with President Trump, both Egypt and Jordan have successfully influenced the U.S. to consider their plan for Gaza’s future. The discussions emphasize a collaborative Arab approach to governance in the region, particularly concerning Hamas’ role and the substantial financial investment required for reconstruction. This ongoing dialogue has significant implications for stability and post-war governance in Gaza.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
