Eurasia Press & News
Latest Developments
- Egypt to Present Alternative Plan for Gaza: Egypt will reportedly present a plan later in February to rebuild the Gaza Strip within three to five years without displacing Palestinian civilians. The move will serve as Cairo’s counterproposal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for the United States to take responsibility for the war-torn enclave and incentivize Palestinians to voluntarily resettle elsewhere. Cairo would reportedly undertake its proposed reconstruction plan in cooperation with several Arab nations, the European Union, and the United Nations.
- Sisi Stays Clear of DC: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has reportedly refused to travel to Washington for meetings with Trump so long as the U.S. president’s plan for Gaza remains in consideration. Trump has repeatedly insisted that both Jordan and Egypt will take in Palestinian refugees during Gaza’s rebuild, even threatening that he could “conceivably withhold aid” to those nations should their governments not cooperate. Jordan’s King Abdullah agreed during a visit to the White House this week to allow 2,000 Palestinian children with urgent medical needs to be treated in the Hashemite Kingdom.
- Initial Plan Details Emerge After Egyptian Statement of Intent: Reports of Cairo’s proposed plan for the Gaza Strip emerged following a February 11 press release from Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating the country’s “intention to present a vision for Gaza reconstruction that ensures the Palestinian people remain in their homeland.” The statement called for “ending Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land” and the implementation of the “two-state solution as the only path to stability and coexistence.”
FDD Expert Response
“Cairo’s recent attitude toward the Gazan relocation proposal shows its hypocrisy when it comes to the Palestinian cause. When push came to shove, Egyptian policymakers were the first to abandon the Gazans. Leaving the population suffering in the coastal enclave during a long decade of reconstruction should be frowned upon by the international community. If Jordan’s King Abdullah agreed to take 2,000 Gazan children, Sisi should take at least 20,000 children including their families given his country’s larger size.” — Haisam Hassanein, Adjunct Fellow
“Details on Egypt’s proposal remain limited, but from what we know so far, it raises some concerns. Cairo’s plan prioritizes rebuilding Gaza without displacing Palestinians, yet it does not appear to fully address governance or demilitarization. Throughout the war, the IDF uncovered an extensive tunnel network from Egypt that would need to be dismantled as part of any lasting reconstruction effort — an issue that may not be adequately addressed. The proposal is reportedly set to be carried out with the cooperation of other Arab states, the European Union, and the United Nations. The absence of U.S. and Israeli participation suggests a deliberate choice, which could have implications for the plan’s long-term success.” — Mariam Wahba, Research Analyst
