This week, Egypt continued to mobilise resources and work with regional and international partners to draw up a plan to rebuild Gaza and ease the humanitarian situation there.
Cairo reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the full realisation of the two-state solution. The Egyptian position was made clear in President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi’s message that he would not visit Washington as long as the displacement of Palestinians is on the agenda, and by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during his visit to the US, says professor of political science Tarek Fahmi.
Cairo has launched an intensive diplomatic campaign to assess international reactions to the idea of the forced displacement or transfer of Palestinians and lobby for its plan to rebuild Gaza which will be unveiled during the five-nation meeting due in Riyadh on 21 February, Fahmi told Al-Ahram Weekly.
The flurry of meetings, including plans to hold a conference on rebuilding Gaza in Cairo soon, aim to create an Egyptian-Arab détente and close the door to any US suggestions or plans, says Fahmi.
During the fourth meeting of the International Alliance for Implementing the Two-State Solution which took place in Cairo this week, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians, saying Cairo’s rejection is backed by the Arab world and the international community. The alliance was launched by Saudi Arabia in October 2024.
The two-state solution is the only path to achieving lasting peace and security for all the people of the Middle East, said Abdelatty.
Egypt’s top diplomat underlined Egypt’s steadfast commitment to the realisation of the two-state solution and the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state on the whole of Palestinian national territory, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Addressing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, Abdelatty pointed out that Cairo is actively developing a comprehensive, multi-phase plan for Gaza’s early recovery that includes rehabilitating infrastructure, intensifying humanitarian aid and revitalising the economy.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and Sigrid Kaag, UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza and UN Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, attended the meeting.
During President Al-Sisi’s talks with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides in Cairo on Monday, both leaders highlighted that establishing a Palestinian state based on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, is the only way to achieve lasting peace.
Al-Sisi also used the meeting to underline Egypt’s commitment to implementing all three phases of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza andbriefed his Cypriot counterpart on Egypt’s efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for rebuilding Gaza.
On Sunday, during Jordanian Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah’s meeting with President Al-Sisi in Cairo, the same points were raised, with Al-Hussein expressing Jordan’s full support for Egypt’s plans to reconstruct Gaza without displacing the Palestinians.
The many meetings, held in Egypt and elsewhere, aim to highlight that Egypt, along with other Arab states, remains committed to the two-state solution as the only formula for peace in the region, said a diplomat who preferred to withhold his name.
When the US Secretary-of-State acknowledged during his tour of the region that Arab states oppose US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plans, he questioned whether anyone had a better suggestion.
“Egypt and the Arab states will come up with a plan that will protect the right of the People of Gaza,” said the diplomat.
In a meeting with US lawmakers visiting Cairo this week, Abdelatty repeated that Egypt is developing a multi-phase plan in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries and insisted that the international community supports the plan.
He stressed the importance of a political process to resolve the Palestinian Israeli conflict and the need to establish an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution.
The US delegation was led by led by Republican Congressman Darrell Issa, vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Abdelatty concluded his own visit to the US last week during which he said that Cairo wants to work with Trump to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the region.
Egypt’s diplomatic campaign came in response to Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza and deport its population of almost two million to neighbouring countries. The proposal was met with shock and swiftly condemned by Egypt and Jordan as an attempt to liquidate the Palestinian cause.
In recent days, Egyptian intelligence officials have been meeting Hamas leaders to shore up the shaky ceasefire, and an Israeli delegation arrived in Egypt to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire.
Egypt, alongside Qatar and the United States, has played a key role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire deal.
“There are clear efforts from Egypt and other Arab states that can be built on,” says Fahmi.
“Maintaining the ceasefire is a priority, and we need to focus on what can be achieved in the second phase.”
* A version of this article appears in print in the 20 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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