KEY POINTS
- Sisi rejects any displacement of Palestinians, calling it an injustice and a threat to Egypt’s security.
- Trump’s proposal for Egypt and Jordan to take in displaced Palestinians has been firmly rejected by both nations.
- Egypt continues to push for a two-state solution, believing it is the only path to lasting peace in the Middle East.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has made it clear that his country will not participate in the displacement of Palestinians, calling it an act of injustice that would threaten Egypt’s national security.
Speaking at a press conference in Cairo alongside Kenyan President William Ruto, Sisi responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians from Gaza due to the ongoing war.
According to Reuters, Sisi dismissed the proposal outright, saying that Egypt will only support a peaceful resolution based on a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
“Regarding what is being said about the displacement of Palestinians, it can never be tolerated or allowed because of its impact on Egyptian national security,” Sisi stated. “The deportation or displacement of the Palestinian people is an injustice in which we cannot participate.”
Trump made the proposal during a speech over the weekend, calling Gaza a “demolition site” after 15 months of Israeli bombardment, which has left most of its 2.3 million residents homeless.
Sisi backs two-state solution for lasting peace
Sisi emphasized that Egypt stands by the two-state solution, arguing that it is a historical right that cannot be ignored.
“If I ask the Egyptian people what they think about Trump’s proposal, they would take to the streets in protest,” he said. “The two-state solution is a historical right that can’t be bypassed.”
He also expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to broker a just and permanent peace deal in the Middle East, but firmly rejected any plan that involves relocating Palestinians outside of their homeland.
The displacement of Palestinians has long been a red line for Arab nations, with Egypt and Jordan making it clear that they will not support any plan that forces Palestinians to leave Gaza, which they see as part of their future independent state.
Arab nations united against forced relocation
The foreign ministries of Egypt and Jordan have both rejected Trump’s proposal, stressing that Palestinians should not be forced to leave Gaza.
Jordan already hosts several million Palestinians, while tens of thousands live in Egypt. Arab leaders fear that any mass displacement would permanently erase Palestinian claims to their land and worsen regional instability.
Trump had initially planned to discuss the matter directly with Sisi, but instead, U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio spoke with Egypt’s foreign minister over the weekend.
Notably, Trump’s proposal was not mentioned during the call, further signaling Egypt’s firm stance against it.
As tensions remain high, Egypt continues to advocate for a diplomatic resolution, urging global leaders to prioritize a long-term solution that respects Palestinian sovereignty.
