US threatens Egypt with military aid cuts if Gaza plot rejected
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As Egypt maintains its stance of opposition to the forced displacement of Gazans to its lands, the United States has resorted to threats to enforce its scheme.
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President Donald Trump meets with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi at the InterContinental Barclay Hotel during the United Nations General Assembly, on September 23, 2019, in New York. (AP)
The US is pressuring Cairo to embrace President Donald Trump’s scheme for Gaza’s post-war future, including the forced displacement of Palestinians to Egypt, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, as reported by the Times of Israel.
Quoting Egyptian sources in Washington, the London-based outlet claims that the Pentagon has cautioned Egyptian military officials about potential restrictions on military aid if Cairo refuses to comply with Trump’s plan.
Specifically, the sources indicate that essential supplies for routine maintenance and spare weapons parts could be at risk.
Egypt, on the other hand, has launched an intensive diplomatic push to rally support for an Arab-led initiative to rebuild the Gaza Strip, prioritizing practical solutions over political concerns to counter a widely unpopular plan from US President Donald Trump.
Trump’s proposal—to have the US "take control of Gaza, redevelop it as an international destination, and relocate its Palestinian residents"—has upended regional dynamics surrounding the 16-month Israeli war on the Strip.
For Egypt, the stakes are especially high, according to The Wall Street Journal. Trump has repeatedly suggested sending Gazans to Egypt, despite Cairo’s firm opposition. When asked where Palestinians would go, Trump responded, "I believe we’ll have a parcel of land in Egypt."
Egypt’s proposal, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, aims to keep Palestinians in Gaza and establish a technocratic administration drawn from within the enclave. Security would be provided by Palestinians trained by Arab forces. Cairo is also seeking funding commitments from regional partners and plans to host a donor conference.
Trump has invited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to the White House, but Egyptian officials say no visit has been scheduled. El-Sisi remains cautious about the optics of meeting Trump amid heightened tensions over the Gaza issue.
Egypt will host a summit of Arab leaders on February 27 to discuss what it called "new and dangerous developments in the Palestinian issue."
