The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing Egyptian officials, that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is concerned about public perception if he visits Washington and meets with U.S. President Donald Trump, following Trump's call for Egypt and Jordan to take in displaced Palestinians from Gaza.
اضافة اعلان
Officials added that Sisi is also worried about the risks of facing open U.S. pressure as Trump continues to promote his plan, which Cairo has firmly rejected. The Egyptian public also opposes the plan, considering it a potential security issue for the military.
As of now, there are no reports of a scheduled or planned meeting between the U.S. and Egyptian presidents. However, Trump previously stated that he would discuss his Gaza plan and the possibility of Cairo hosting displaced Palestinians with Sisi.
On Monday, Sisi reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding Gaza to make it livable without displacing its Palestinian residents, ensuring their right to remain on their land.
Waiting for Egypt's Response
This comes after Trump met with Jordan's King Abdullah II in Washington, where Trump reiterated his plan to take control of Gaza and relocate its people. He also reminded that the U.S. provides significant financial aid to both Jordan and Egypt, though he added, "But we won’t make threats about it."
King Abdullah II emphasized that Arab nations would present their collective response to Trump's Gaza plan at the upcoming Arab League summit in Cairo on February 27. He stated, "We should wait for Egypt's plan and discuss the matter in Saudi Arabia."
Regarding the possibility of alternative land for Palestinians, King Abdullah II responded, "I have to act in my country's best interest."
Later, the Jordanian king reaffirmed his country’s firm stance against the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank in a statement on the X platform.
Last Sunday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty visited Washington to discuss regional developments. While details of his discussions with U.S. officials remain unclear, he emphasized Egypt's rejection of forced displacement and the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state.
Trump's Retreat
Meanwhile, The Intercept quoted Arab and Israeli analysts saying that Trump's recent remarks—stating he would not use U.S. aid as leverage against Jordan and Egypt—marked a retreat from his earlier stance. Previously, he suggested that both countries would accept his plan due to their reliance on U.S. financial assistance.
Analysts asserted that Trump's Gaza plan is unlikely to succeed, stressing that cutting U.S. aid to Egypt and Jordan would not be their downfall—"but accepting the American president’s proposal would be."
Since January 25, Trump has been pushing for a plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries, particularly Jordan and Egypt. However, both countries have rejected the proposal, joined by other Arab nations and regional and international organizations.
