Egypt, Jordan reject Israeli plot to forcibly displace Palestinians

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Dec 2023 20:21
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The leaders of the two countries warn that the continuation of the Israeli war on Gaza might lead to catastrophic consequences for the entire region.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi hold a meeting in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 (The Royal Hashemite Court)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan's King Abdullah II issued a joint statement on Wednesday announcing their rejection of any attempts by the Israeli occupation to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The leaders met in Cairo to discuss the ongoing crisis and underscored their commitment to the Palestinian cause, in the presence of the foreign ministers and heads of intelligence of both countries.

Since day one of the war on the Strip, the occupation entity's top officials publicly declared that one of the objectives was to forcefully displace its residents to other countries, most notably Jordan and Egypt.

Most recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the occupation entity is in contact with countries to persuade them to agree to take in Palestinian "refugees from Gaza."

In their joint statement, the leaders emphasized their "complete rejection of all attempts to liquidate the Palestinian issue and forcibly displace Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip."

King Abdullah reiterated Jordan's unwavering support for Cairo's position against the forced displacement of the residents of Gaza.

Furthermore, the leaders called “for the whole world to push towards an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the delivery of sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to alleviate the tragic situation and the suffering of Gazans."

King Abdullah and President el-Sisi emphasized that the international community “shoulders an immense political and ethical responsibility” toward implementing UN resolutions to “maintain the integrity of these international entities.”

On that point, they expressed their concerns about potential efforts to reoccupy parts of Gaza, establish buffer zones within the Strip, or separate the territory from the West Bank.

Their statement also warned that the continuation of the war would potentially lead to catastrophic consequences for the entire region and impact international security.

King Abdullah cautioned that the ongoing expansion of the Israeli military offensive in southern Gaza could lead to catastrophic humanitarian and security consequences, particularly given the perilous humanitarian conditions prevailing in the region.

He also warned against Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank and al-Quds, especially concerning the extremist settler violence against Palestinians, which “could lead to an explosion of the situation.”

Lastly, the heads of state called for close coordination between their two countries and urged the creation of a political path toward achieving a just and comprehensive peace "based on a two-state solution," with an "independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital."

Steadfast Palestinians

The Israeli plot to expel Palestinians from their land saw the occupation army carry out the bloodiest aggression since WWII, which included the killing of over 21,000 Palestinians, most of whom were children and women, and mass destruction affecting homes, hospitals, schools, and other vital infrastructure necessary for survival.

The agenda was repeatedly criticized by "Israel's" main allies, including the United States, and countries that are supposed to "host the refugees," including both Jordan and Egypt.

Nevertheless, every effort to execute this plan was met with the resilience of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands among them steadfastly declined to vacate the northern Strip, opting instead to stay in their homes, even in the face of the catastrophic conditions imposed by the entity and the daily ongoing massacres.