Egypt's FM affirms rejection of Trump's 'Gaza plan' to Rubio
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Trump floated the idea of ending aid to Egypt and Jordan if they do not support his plan to displace Palestinians, following Abdelatty's meeting with Rubio.
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Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, left, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands at the State Department, Washington, the United States, on February 10, 2025. (AP)
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Arab governments support Palestinians in rejecting US President Doland Trump's plan to displace Palestinians and "take over" the territory.
Abdelatty met with Rubio in Washington on Monday, stressing the need to expedite Gaza's reconstruction while Palestinians remain in their homeland.
Later, speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said that he could "conceivably" stop aid to both Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to be part of his plan. The two Arab countries, which share borders with Palestine's West Bank and Gaza Strip respectively, are expected to be the main destination for displaced Palestinians.
Trump's plan to ethnically cleanse Palestinians
Such scenarios have been pushed for extensively by Israeli politicians and leaders, specifically relating to making life so unbearable for Palestinians that they would "choose" to move somewhere else. "Voluntary immigration" and the "transfer" of native populations are terms deliberately chosen to mask the reality of what is, in fact, ethnic cleansing.
This action has gained troubling momentum since Trump's presidency, during which he unveiled grandiose and controversial plans for the Gaza Strip. During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump vowed to turn Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East." He used the widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip as justification for urging Palestinians to abandon their homeland, all while conveniently ignoring that the man standing beside him was widely responsible for the devastation.
Read more: Palestinians will have no right of return to Gaza under US plan: Trump
Egypt will not compromise on Palestinian rights
Trump's most recent threats to Egypt come after Arab governments collectively rejected his plans to forcibly displace Palestinians.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry released a statement saying Abdelatty rejected "any compromise" that would infringe on Palestinians' rights following the minister's meeting with his US counterpart on Monday.
Abdelatty also met with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and echoes similar statements.
The ministry also urged the international community to unify behind Palestinians to correct "historic injustice" and restore their rights.
Egypt's foreign ministry said on Monday that the international community should unify behind Palestinians to right "historic injustice" and restore their "legitimate and inalienable rights."
Trump's plan has received global condemnation, with leaders saying such a move would threaten regional stability.
Read more: UN Chief rejects US-backed plan to displace Palestinians
