Cairo, Egypt – Israel has initiated preparations for the evacuation of Palestinians from Gaza, despite widespread international rejection of President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to depopulate the region. Behind closed doors, Egypt has launched a diplomatic campaign against the proposal, cautioning that it may jeopardize its peace treaty with Israel, according to officials.
Following intense backlash from the international community, Trump administration officials have attempted to downplay the proposal, emphasizing that the relocation of Palestinians would be temporary. However, specifics regarding the plan remain scarce.
In a social media post, Trump asserted that Palestinians would be relocated to “safer and more beautiful communities” with modern homes, after which Israel would hand over control of Gaza to the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the temporary nature of the relocations, indicating that Palestinians would reside elsewhere while Gaza is rehabilitated.
Despite assurances from Trump and Israeli authorities that the relocation would be voluntary, Palestinians have adamantly expressed their refusal to leave their homeland, fearing that they may never be allowed to return. Egypt and Saudi Arabia, key U.S. allies, have both rejected mass transfers of Palestinians, emphasizing the necessity of a Palestinian state that encompasses Gaza for normalized relations with Israel.
Human Rights Watch and other organizations have condemned the proposed relocation as “ethnic cleansing,” highlighting the potential forcible removal of the Palestinian population from Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to make arrangements for the emigration of Palestinians via land, sea, and air crossings, although no tangible preparations have been observed as of yet.
Egypt has adamantly rejected efforts to move Palestinians from Gaza, labeling it a violation of international law that could destabilize the region and threaten peace. The Egyptian government has emphasized its commitment to a Palestinian state comprising Gaza, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.
In a show of solidarity, Arab nations including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have united in opposition to the transfer of Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank. Egypt has underscored the urgent need to protect the independence and unity of Arab countries amidst escalating tensions in the region.