Egypt has dismissed claims that it is preparing to resettle 500,000 Palestinians from Gaza in northern Sinai, calling such reports false.
“A number of media outlets have spread claims that Egypt is planning to host 500,000 Gazans in northern Sinai as part of a reconstruction plan for the enclave. We categorically deny this,” Egypt’s State Information Service said in a statement. Cairo reaffirmed its longstanding opposition to both forced and voluntary displacement of Palestinians, particularly onto Egyptian territory, viewing such a move as a national security threat.
Egypt’s reconstruction plan for Gaza does not include relocation, the statement emphasized, adding that this approach was endorsed by Arab leaders during a summit on March 4.
The debate over potential displacement reignited in early February when US President Donald Trump suggested that Washington was considering long-term control over Gaza and relocating its Palestinian population to other countries in the region.
Trump’s remarks were swiftly condemned by Hamas, Arab leaders, and Iran. In response, Egypt announced it would draft an alternative reconstruction plan that does not involve displacing Palestinians. The proposal was presented at the March 4 Arab League summit, where it received unanimous approval. On March 12, Egyptian officials also discussed the plan with US Envoy Steve Wittkoff during a meeting in Doha with Arab foreign ministers.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: sophia valkova/Unsplash
Based on materials from TASS