Trump Reassesses Gaza Plan Following Rejection by Egypt and Jordan
President Trump re-evaluated his plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza following strong opposition from Egypt’s President Al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah. This led to a conference of Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia aimed at devising a collective response. Egypt seeks to rebuild Gaza without displacing its inhabitants, emphasizing a collaborative approach to address the humanitarian crisis.
On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump seemed to reconsider his plan to relocate approximately two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to neighboring Middle Eastern countries as part of an initiative to transform Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East.” Initially, Trump expressed confidence in his ability to persuade leaders like Egypt’s Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah to accept displaced Palestinians, despite their outright rejections.
President Al-Sisi firmly opposed the notion of displacing the Palestinian population, stating: “We have warned since the beginning of the crisis that what was happening was an attempt to render the Gaza Strip uninhabitable. The displacement of the Palestinian people from their place is an injustice. We cannot condone or be a part of the unjust displacement of Palestinians.” These objections seemed to resonate with Trump, who, during a telephonic interview, recognized the impracticality of his proposed plan.
Acknowledging the refusals from Egypt and Jordan, Trump conceded the logistical difficulty of his proposal: “We pay Jordan and Egypt billions of dollars every year. And I was a little surprised they’d say that, but they did.” Although he maintained faith in his original plan, he stated, “I’ll just sit back and recommend it” instead of enforcing it.
In the meantime, Arab leaders convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to address Trump’s initiative, with representation from key nations such as Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. This meeting precedes a larger Arab summit scheduled for March 4, highlighting the necessity for cohesive action among Arab states in response to the situation.
Amidst these discussions, Egypt is collaborating with Arab partners to devise a comprehensive plan focused on rebuilding Gaza without necessitating the displacement of its Palestinian residents. This strategy includes creating secure living areas within Gaza, while Egyptian and international construction firms work on enhancing and revamping the area’s infrastructure.
In summary, President Trump’s reconsideration of his Gaza relocation proposal stems from firm opposition from Egyptian and Jordanian leadership. The convening of Arab states to formulate a unified response illustrates the regional complexity surrounding Gaza’s future, emphasizing a collaborative approach to rebuilding efforts without displacing the Palestinian population. The situation remains fluid as diplomatic discussions continue, with Egypt taking a leading role in the reconstruction initiative.
Original Source: www.dailynewsegypt.com
