Egypt offers temporary refuge for Gaza residents amid tensions
The President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, expressed his readiness to temporarily host up to half a million residents of the Gaza Strip in Sinai. His statement has sparked controversy in the region.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt announced his willingness to temporarily accommodate up to half a million Gaza Strip residents in Sinai. This information was reported by the Times of Israel, citing Lebanese media close to Hezbollah. El-Sisi reportedly informed other Arab leaders of his readiness to relocate Palestinians to a designated city in northern Sinai.
The announcement by President El-Sisi faced criticism from Jordan, which opposes the plans to relocate Gaza Strip residents. The Times of Israel notes that there is no confirmation of this information from other sources.
The idea of relocating Gaza Strip residents and placing the area under U.S. control was previously proposed by Donald Trump. The former U.S. president viewed this as a way to end violence in the region and transform the devastated Gaza Strip into the "Middle East Riviera." Trump suggested that Palestinians should be hosted by Egypt and Jordan, which met with protests from these countries.
Situation in the Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip has been devastated by more than 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization governing this territory. The conflict began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths. The fighting has claimed the lives of over 48,000 Palestinians.
Arab countries, including Egypt, have devised a plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip that involves rebuilding the territory without displacing the population. The goal is to create an independent Palestinian state in the regions of Gaza and the West Bank. This proposal is presented as an alternative to Trump's plan.
