Palestinian displacement would be an injustice Egypt cannot participate in: President El-Sisi

Ahram Online , Friday 31 Jan 2025

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi asserted on Wednesday that Egypt "cannot participate in the injustice of displacing the Palestinian people."

Sisi-Ruto
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Kenyan President William Ruto during the press conference at Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Wednesday 29 January 2025. Egyptian presidency

 

President El-Sisi asserted that such displacement "can never be tolerated or allowed" due to its potential threat to Egypt's national security in his first public comment on Trump's recent proposals to relocate the Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, 

During a press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday, the Egyptian president emphasized that Egypt is committed to working with US President Donald Trump to reach the desired peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution.

He reiterated that the constants of the historical Egyptian position on the Palestinian cause "can never be compromised in any way."

"There are historical rights that cannot be ignored," said the Egyptian president, adding "Egyptian, Arab, and international public opinion recognized a historical injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people for the past 70 years."

He highlighted how the world has witnessed the return of the Palestinian people to the Gaza Strip after enduring destruction for more than 15 months.

Egypt has consistently rejected all attempts to make life in Gaza untenable to force the Palestinians to leave, said El-Sisi.

In a controversial statement on Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced that he would propose relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Jordan and Egypt.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he had told Jordan's King Abdullah II: "I'd love you to take on more because I'm looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it's a mess, it's a real mess." Trump added that he planned to present the same proposal to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday.

Immediately, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Cairo categorically rejects any displacement of Palestinians from their land, be it "short term" or "long term." Amman also declared its official rejection of the displacement of Palestinians to Jordan.

The Palestinian side and the Arab League condemned Trump's suggestions.

France and others in the international community declared opposition to the US president's proposals.

On Tuesday, the Axios News website reported that US President Trump allegedly told reporters on his plane Monday evening that he spoke with El-Sisi about transferring Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt.

A high-ranking official denied any recent phone conversation took place between El-Sisi and Trump, Al-Qahera News reported.

Speaking at the joint press conference in Cairo, the Kenyan president commended President El-Sisi's efforts in promoting peace and security in the region, praising Egypt's role in facilitating the recent ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

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