Egypt's Sisi, Jordan's King Abdullah reaffirm unified stance on Gaza
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II emphasize their "shared position" in rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians.
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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, second from right, listens to Jordan's King Abdullah II, left, during a group picture ahead of the Islamic Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, early Saturday, June 1, 2019 (AP)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II reaffirmed on Wednesday the alignment of their countries' positions on Gaza, a day after US President Donald Trump met with the Jordanian monarch in Washington.
"The two leaders affirmed the unity of the Egyptian and Jordanian positions" regarding the reconstruction of Gaza, "without displacing the Palestinian people from their land," according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
A separate statement from the Jordanian royal court echoed this stance, emphasizing their "shared position" in rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Both statements also underscored their willingness to "cooperate" with Trump in pursuit of a "just and lasting peace" in the Middle East.
Egypt and Jordan have been at the forefront of an intense Arab diplomatic effort opposing Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza to their territories.
Trump’s comments have been accompanied by a suggestion that US aid to both countries could "conceivably" be halted if they refuse to accept displaced Palestinians.
Following his meeting with Trump in Washington on Tuesday, King Abdullah II reaffirmed that Jordan remains "steadfast" in its opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
"This is the unified Arab position," King Abdullah II wrote on social media.
Egypt announced this week that it would host a summit of Arab nations later this month, where it plans to present a "comprehensive vision" for Gaza’s reconstruction while ensuring that Palestinians remain on their land.
Both Egypt and Jordan, key US allies, rely heavily on foreign aid, with the US ranking among their top donors.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas commended Jordan and Egypt for their stance against the displacement of the residents of Gaza.
Hamas "appreciates the positions of our brothers in Jordan and Egypt in rejecting displacement of our people and affirming that there is an Arab plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents," the group stated.
On Tuesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also lauded King Abdullah II’s position "in support of the just and legitimate national rights of our people."
Abbas also expressed appreciation for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab states and allies for their rejection of Trump’s proposal, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.
In its Wednesday statement, Hamas further praised Jordan’s opposition to the plan, describing it as consistent with Amman’s "long-standing rejection of displacement and resettlement."
The group also condemned what it referred to as "so-called 'alternative homeland' projects," warning that such initiatives aim to "erase the identity of our Palestinian people and eliminate their just cause."
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