Egypt has reiterated its firm stance against any attempt to forcibly or voluntarily displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, following allegations that Egypt might accept such displacement in exchange for economic aid.
اضافة اعلان
In a statement issued on Monday, the Egyptian State Information Service emphasized Egypt’s unwavering position in rejecting any attempt to displace Palestinian brothers from Gaza, whether forcibly or voluntarily, to any place outside Palestine, especially to Egypt. It stressed that such actions would undermine the Palestinian cause and pose a serious threat to Egypt's national security.
The statement clarified Egypt’s complete rejection of any claims circulating in some media outlets that suggest Egypt’s acceptance of displacement "which is categorically rejected" could be linked to the provision of economic aid. The statement reaffirmed that Egypt’s foreign policy has never been based on "bargaining" its national or Arab interests for any form of compensation, no matter its nature.
The statement continued, "The Palestinian cause is at the heart of Egypt's national and Arab security. Egypt's stance on it for more than three-quarters of a century has been firm, prioritizing national security considerations and the rights of the Palestinian people. Egypt has borne, with patience and satisfaction, enormous economic and financial burdens in support of this cause, without ever conceding even slightly on the requirements of its national security or the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people."
The statement further highlighted that Egypt "not only rejects any proposal for displacement since the beginning of the aggression on Gaza, through political and diplomatic channels, but it has also clearly and loudly declared this stance from the earliest hours of the aggression, as articulated by its political leadership. This commitment has been made in front of its people and the world, consistent with its national security, the higher Arab interests, and the preservation of the Palestinian cause, while upholding its foreign policy principles based on ethics and the absolute rejection of any 'bargaining' considerations."
The statement also addressed remarks made by U.S. Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, in an interview with U.S. broadcaster Tucker Carlson, where Witkoff claimed that Egypt is facing a dire economic situation, suffering from "bankruptcy" and "high unemployment." This was interpreted by many Egyptians as an attempt at U.S. pressure or a new form of inducement.
In response to a question about how the situation in Gaza might impact internal conditions in Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, Witkoff remarked: "I think Egypt is at the forefront. All the positive things that have happened after the elections, due to the elimination of Nasrallah and al-Sinwar, could be reversed if we lose Egypt."
He continued, "What happened in Syria was a huge data source about the region; I mean, getting rid of Assad was massive, and no one expected that. But Egypt, I would say, the data in Egypt suggests a massive unemployment rate of about 45%. Unemployment like this cannot continue in a country, and they are deeply bankrupt and need a lot of help." (RT)
