Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Arab states have rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s widely condemned plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza and take control of the enclave.

During a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, Mr Abdelatty emphasised the need to expedite Gaza’s reconstruction while Palestinians remained there.

A statement from the U.S. State Department, following the meeting, did not directly address Mr Trump’s plan but stressed the importance of close cooperation for Gaza’s governance and security, stating that Hamas should never again govern Gaza or threaten Israel.

According to Egypt’s foreign ministry, Mr Abdelatty expressed hope of working with the new U.S. administration to achieve “comprehensive and just peace and stability” in the region.

He also met with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, where he reiterated similar points.

The Palestinian leadership, supported by neighbouring Arab states, rejected any proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza; a region they see as part of an independent state.

This has been a long-standing concern since the Israel-Gaza conflict intensified in October 2023.

Mr Trump’s initial suggestion on January 25 that Egypt and Jordan should accept Palestinians from Gaza sparked significant backlash.

His later proposals for a U.S. takeover of Gaza and the potential permanent displacement of Palestinians had been widely criticised, with rights advocates and the United Nations calling it ethnic cleansing.

The ongoing Israeli military assault, which has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians in the past 16 months, has caused immense suffering, displacement, and a hunger crisis in Gaza. 

(Reuters/NAN)