 "Israel's backing of Trump's Gaza 'takeover' plan threatens ceasefire negotiations, warns Egypt")
After Israel announced preparations for the departure of Palestinians from Gaza, despite international rejection of President Donald Trump’s plan, Egypt on Thursday said that Israeli backing for this plan “weakens and destroys ceasefire negotiations and incites a return to fighting.”
Truce mediator Egypt’s statement comes after a number of members of the Israeli government issued statements today, without naming them.
Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz asked the military to develop a plan for Palestinians to leave Gaza, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the proposal as “remarkable.”
Apparently referring to the order, Egypt’s foreign ministry said, “Egypt stresses the catastrophic consequences of this irresponsible act which weakens the ceasefire negotiations, and would squash them and incite a return of fighting.”
Egypt, along with Qatar and the US, helped broker the ceasefire deal that brought a halt to the fighting in Gaza last month.
Egypt has cautioned that expelling Palestinians would destabilise the region and jeopardise its peace treaty with Israel, which has been a cornerstone of stability and US influence for decades.
Egypt labeled the plan as “a blatant violation of international law… and an infringement on the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.”
Trump’s proposal last week for the United States to “take over” Gaza and move Palestinians out of the territory has been met with resounding rejection from Palestinians, Arab governments and world leaders.
The United Nations and legal experts have said the plan is illegal under international law.
“Any forcible transfer in or deportation of people from occupied territory is strictly prohibited,” AFP quoted UN rights chief Volker Turk as saying.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe plan Trump has put forward would involve some of Gaza’s roughly two million residents being displaced into Egypt, which shares a border with the territory.
The Trump administration has already scaled back parts of its proposal after widespread international rejection, stating that the relocation of Palestinians would be temporary. US officials have provided few details on the execution timeline.
On Thursday, Trump claimed that Israel would hand over Gaza to the US after the war, asserting that no American soldiers would be needed for redevelopment.
Palestinians have strongly opposed Trump’s proposal, fearing it would prevent their return.
Saudi Arabia, another key US ally, has also rejected any mass transfer of Palestinians and insists it will not normalise relations with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state that includes Gaza.
While Trump and Israeli officials frame the proposed relocation as voluntary, Palestinians are resolute in their desire to remain in their homeland.
The response to potential refusal remains unclear, but Human Rights Watch and other groups warn that the plan could constitute “ethnic cleansing.”
Meanwhile, Hamas has called for an urgent summit of the Arab countries following President Trump’s proposal.
The group, which led the 7 October attacks, earlier said it “categorically rejects” the proposal.
With inputs from agencies
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