Egypt is responding to Trump’s proposal for Gazan refugees by organizing regional summits and negotiating with U.S. officials, seeking to create a counterplan. Tensions within the Arab states, particularly with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, expose fractures in regional solidarity. Concurrently, the Palestinian Authority pushes for control over Gaza, complicating Egyptian initiatives. Despite these efforts, significant barriers remain, particularly regarding funding and political alignment against Hamas.
Egypt’s strategic response to the United States’ Gaza plan proposed by President Donald Trump has been multi-faceted and calculated. The plan requires Egypt and Jordan to accept a significant influx of Gazan refugees. Egypt has taken the lead in formulating a counter-strategy aimed at mitigating the impacts of this controversial request on regional stability, particularly given the longstanding peace agreements between these states and Israel.
Understanding the potential consequences of the original proposal, Egypt organized a summit on 21 February in Riyadh, uniting leaders from Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain to coordinate a collective regional response. This initial gathering emphasized the need to resist American pressures concerning the Gaza situation and explore cooperative avenues to address the crisis.
Further advancing its agenda, Egypt sent a delegation comprising experienced former officials to Washington on 26 February to engage with US policymakers. The goal was to gain insight into the Trump administration’s aims regarding Gaza, aimed at leveraging their expertise to revise or refine the proposed plans.
On 4 March, Egypt organized an emergency Arab summit to galvanize support for its initiative, although tensions and discord unveiled themselves almost immediately. Notably, key leaders from the UAE and Saudi Arabia sent foreign ministers instead of attending themselves, an act interpreted as a refusal to endorse Egypt’s approach without official concessions.
The absence of these leaders pointed to a growing rift; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly entertained discussing the refugee situation but maintained reservations about Gaza’s political landscape, firmly opposing Hamas while Egypt seeks to involve the group under controlled circumstances. Dissimilar stances on regional governance reflect deeper divides.
The UAE’s suggestion for international oversight in Gaza was met with disapproval from Egypt, which expressed concerns regarding the proposal’s potential implications for the Palestinian population. Jordan also expressed its unwillingness to accept an influx of refugees while both countries look toward securing funding from wealthier Gulf states, who desire greater influence in Gaza’s affairs.
Amidst this backdrop, US efforts were evident, with officials interacting with regional leaders and encouraging incentives for Saudi Arabia to apply pressure on both Egypt and Jordan. Reports surfaced of final outcomes from discussions in Riyadh being directly communicated to Israeli authorities, signaling a complex interplay of regional politics.
During the Cairo summit, diplomatic engagement was further complicated by Algeria’s decision to send its foreign minister rather than its president in protest of perceived exclusivity in discussions. Historical tensions between Egypt and Algeria over Palestinian issues resurfaced as Algeria sought to position itself as a mediator.
Concurrent with Egypt’s advocacy, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas pushed his own agenda for Gaza’s governance, aiming for full PA control over the territory. However, his proposal was met with skepticism by Egypt and the UAE, who viewed it as impractical given the PA’s diminished presence and popularity.
While Egypt’s reconstruction proposal, developed in consultation with the World Bank and UNDP, received surface-level endorsements, significant obstacles remain. Both the US and Israel resisted plans that would involve Hamas or the UN Relief and Works Agency, complicating Egypt’s reconstruction efforts and efforts to secure regional unity.
In response to these challenges, Egypt has sought new alliances, leveraging its delegation of former officials in Washington to lobby for support. While initial feedback was positive, definitive commitments remain elusive, and US apprehensions about Hamas continue to shape the landscape.
Egypt’s proposals are being tailored to align partially with American expectations while still maintaining a central role in the Palestinian issue. However, the uncertainty of regional alliances leaves the future of Gaza reconstruction in question. The need for significant financial contributions from key players remains critical as Egypt aims to uphold its strategy amidst shifting alliances in the region and the complexities of Trump’s administration.
The article highlights Egypt’s complex diplomatic efforts to counteract the repercussions of the U.S. Gaza plan, which would require regional partners to absorb a large number of refugees. Despite high-level summits and engagements with international stakeholders, serious rifts among Arab countries, particularly with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, present numerous obstacles. As Egypt navigates internal and external pressures, the success of its reconstruction plan hinges on securing financial backing and maintaining its influence over Gaza’s political future amidst significant challenges from both U.S. and Israeli perspectives.
Original Source: thecradle.co
