File Photo: Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab Al-Louh. Ahram.
He added that although 22,000 people registered within hours to return to Gaza, the process has not moved forward.
Al-Louh said the Rafah crossing is open on the Egyptian side, but Israel is preventing it from opening on the Palestinian side. This, he said, has stopped Palestinians who left Gaza for Egypt from returning, despite their strong wish to go back, particularly those who left family members behind.
Speaking at a press conference at the Palestinian embassy in Cairo, Al-Louh said the embassy is fully prepared to take all necessary steps for the return, including registering names and arranging transportation, but Israeli restrictions continue to block these efforts.
He praised Egypt’s humanitarian role, saying it has hosted Palestinians who left Gaza and provided full medical care to the wounded and sick in hospitals run by Egypt’s Ministry of Health with full coverage.
He thanked the Egyptian government and the Ministries of Health and Social Solidarity, adding that those who completed treatment were moved to accommodation provided by the Ministry of Social Solidarity.
On proposals for a Gaza administration committee, Al-Louh said the idea is a joint Egyptian-Palestinian proposal offered as an alternative to Israeli and US plans that exclude the Palestinian Authority.
He stressed that the committee must operate under the Palestinian Authority through its ministries and institutions, warning that allowing it to function independently would amount to separating Gaza from the West Bank.
On reconstruction, Al-Louh said Palestinians remain committed to Egypt’s call to hold a Gaza reconstruction conference in Cairo.
He said Egypt’s location, history, and regional role make it well placed to lead reconstruction efforts, noting that Egyptian national companies have the capacity to remove rubble and rebuild efficiently.
He stressed the need to link reconstruction to a political horizon, adding that after an Israeli withdrawal, even a near-complete one, there would be steps, in line with statements by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to hold general elections one year later.
On Palestinian reconciliation, Al-Louh reiterated Egypt’s role, saying the current phase requires moving beyond the concept of “reconciliation” toward a “comprehensive Palestinian partnership” across all fields to address the risks facing the Palestinian cause and people.
He said there is ongoing coordination with Cairo at various levels on future arrangements, stressing that Cairo is as committed as the Palestinians to protecting Palestinian rights.
On UNRWA, Al-Louh said the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people remain committed to the agency’s role, adding that its continued work is closely linked to resolving the refugee issue.
He said public reporting on Gaza and the West Bank does not fully reflect the scale of events on the ground, highlighting the importance of Palestinian media, which he described as an alert and committed partner. He added that 256 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the war began.
Al-Louh said there is a unified Palestinian vision for governing Gaza, with no disagreement on key issues, particularly security and weapons.
He stated that the position is that weapons should be limited to the Palestinian police, describing this as a national security matter, and that the national police should maintain internal security.
He said that without Egypt’s “firm and decisive” stance, by both its leadership and people, against the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, Palestinians would have faced "a new Nakba," more dangerous than the 1948 catastrophe.
Al-Louh described Egypt as the strongest supporter of the Palestinian cause and of Palestinian legitimacy and the role of the Palestinian National Authority.
He noted that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Egyptian officials consistently stress in international forums that establishing an independent Palestinian state is the true path to stability in the Middle East, an approach deeply appreciated by the Palestinian leadership and people.
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