Latest news with #CairoArabEmergencySummit
Asharq Al-Awsat
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Egypt Rejects Israeli Claims of Relocating Gazans to Sinai
Egypt on Friday dismissed as "baseless" claims by Israeli media that it plans to relocate 500,000 Palestinians from Gaza to its North Sinai province that borders the enclave, stressing its commitment to a reconstruction plan for the war-ravaged territory. Former head of the Egyptian army's Department of Morale Affairs Maj. Gen. Samir Farag described the allegations as an attempt to "deflect from Israel's internal crises and test Cairo's response." "Egypt is determined to implement the Gaza reconstruction plan, and such attempts will not deter it from continuing or securing international support," Farag told Asharq Al-Awsat. Egypt on Friday firmly denied media reports claiming it was prepared to temporarily relocate 500,000 Palestinians from Gaza to a designated city in North Sinai as part of reconstruction efforts, the State Information Service (SIS) said in a statement. The SIS dismissed the allegations as "false and unfounded," emphasizing that they "completely contradict Egypt's firm and principled stance," which it has maintained since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. Cairo "categorically and unequivocally rejects any attempt to forcibly or voluntarily displace Palestinians from Gaza, especially to Egypt, as it would undermine the Palestinian cause and pose a serious threat to national security," the statement added. Egypt's firm stance against the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza underpins the reconstruction plan it proposed at the recent Cairo Arab Emergency Summit, which was unanimously approved, the SIS affirmed. The plan aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip without forcing a single Palestinian to leave, the statement stressed. On Friday, Israel's i24 News cited a report from Lebanon's Al-Akhbar newspaper alleging discussions about Egypt receiving 500,000 Gazans in North Sinai. However, the newspaper attributed the claim to Israeli media without citing official sources. Farag reiterated that Egypt has opposed the displacement of Palestinians "since the first day of the Gaza war" and remains committed to its reconstruction plan. "These claims are merely a test of Egypt's resolve, a psychological warfare tactic, and an attempt to shift the crisis onto Egypt," he said, adding that they come as Israel faces internal turmoil and as Cairo continues efforts to push for a ceasefire and a return to negotiations.
Daily News Egypt
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt rejects claims of plan to relocate half a million Gazans to North Sinai
Egypt State Information Service (SIS) has denied media reports claiming that it was 'prepared to temporarily relocate half a million Gazan residents to a designated city in North Sinai as part of a Gaza Strip reconstruction plan.' In a statement, the SIS asserted that these claims were false and fundamentally contradict Egypt's position, which was declared at the onset of the war on Gaza in October 2023. Egypt has consistently rejected any attempt to displace Palestinians, whether forcibly or voluntarily, to any location outside of Gaza, particularly to Egypt. The SIS stated that such actions would constitute a negation of the Palestinian cause and pose a significant threat to Egypt's national security. The SIS emphasized that Egypt's stance underpins the reconstruction plan presented at the recent Cairo Arab Emergency Summit. This plan, unanimously approved by the summit, aims to rebuild Gaza without displacing any Palestinians. US President Donald Trump, who in February proposed relocating approximately two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to neighbouring Middle Eastern countries. Trump suggested this would allow the United States to develop the territory into a 'Riviera of the Middle East.' His plans was firmly rejected by Egypt and Jordan. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi responded to Trump's initial suggestion by saying: 'In Egypt, we have warned since the beginning of the crisis that what was happening was an attempt to render the Gaza Strip uninhabitable, paving the way for the displacement of the Palestinians. I state it unequivocally: The displacement of the Palestinian people from their place is an injustice. We cannot condone or be a part of the unjust displacement of Palestinians.' Egypt has developed a plan, with Arab support, to rebuild Gaza without displacing its Palestinian population. The plan involves establishing 'secure areas' within Gaza where Palestinians can reside while Egyptian and international construction firms remove debris and rehabilitate the strip's infrastructure.
