Egypt’s bitter experience in Gaza: A lesson for today’s crisis

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty met with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, in Cairo on Saturday to discuss ongoing coordination and consultation between their two nations, as well as bilateral relations and regional developments.

Their meeting took place ahead of a broader Arab Foreign Ministers’ discussion, which included Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, along with the Secretary-General of the Arab League and the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

The talks come as US President Donald Trump faces criticism for pressuring Egypt and Jordan to accept displaced Palestinians under what he controversially calls the "Gaza clean out" plan.

"You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say: ‘You know, it’s over.’" – Trump told reporters.

Trump further suggested that this mass displacement "could be temporary" or "could be long-term."

Gaza’s Complex History

However, Egypt has firmly rejected this idea, a position rooted in both historical experience and national security concerns. 

Many may not remember that Gaza was under Egyptian administration from 1948 until 1967, when Israel took control of the territory following the Six-Day War. During this period, Egypt faced significant challenges governing the enclave, with ongoing tensions, security concerns, and instability affecting its rule.

Given this history, Cairo has no intention of assuming responsibility for Gaza once again, especially under circumstances that would serve to further Israel’s occupation while compromising Egypt’s sovereignty and security.

Egyptian officials have repeatedly emphasized that any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza into Sinai would be a violation of international law, posing a direct threat to Egypt’s national security.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has made it clear that Egypt will not allow itself to become a substitute homeland for displaced Palestinians, as this would only serve to permanently erase Palestinian claims to their land and perpetuate Israeli occupation policies.

Both Egypt and Jordan have maintained a consistent stance in rejecting any forced demographic changes in Gaza or the West Bank, calling instead for a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian crisis based on a two-state framework.