The article outlines Egypt’s response to Trump’s Gaza plan, highlighting the complexities of regional cooperation amidst internal Arab divisions. Cairo has initiated discussions with key Arab leaders while facing skepticism regarding the Palestinian Authority’s control and opposition from the U.S. regarding Hamas. Despite its commitment to a reconstruction plan for Gaza, Egypt contends with significant challenges, necessitating potential outreach to new international allies.
The article discusses Cairo’s strategic response to President Donald Trump’s controversial Gaza plan, which proposes the resettlement of a large number of Gazan refugees into Egypt and Jordan. The reaction from Egypt has been multifaceted, focusing on creating an alternative plan that seeks to balance the interests of various stakeholders in the region while countering pressure from the United States.
In an initial step, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi convened a mini-summit in Riyadh on February 21, 2023, involving leaders from Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain as a means to unify their response against US initiatives. Subsequently, an unofficial delegation was sent to Washington to engage with US officials, aiming to test the waters for modifying the proposed plan for Gaza and assessing the political landscape.
An Arab emergency summit was organized on March 4 to build regional consensus, yet it revealed significant divisions among Arab leaders. Notably, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended but sent lower-ranking officials, indicating their reluctance to fully endorse Egypt’s approach without prerequisites. Such absences highlighted deepening rifts and conflicting views on Gaza’s future, especially concerning the role of Hamas.
Internal divisions are evident, with reports suggesting that MbS supports limited refugee absorption from Gaza but insists on a significant reduction of Hamas’s influence, contrary to Egypt’s position. Meanwhile, proposals from the UAE for an international supervisory role in Gaza were dismissed by Egypt due to fears of entrenching displacement.
Further complicating matters, the Palestinian Authority (PA), under President Mahmoud Abbas, sought to reestablish control over Gaza, pushing this agenda during the Cairo summit. However, both Egypt and the UAE expressed skepticism regarding the viability of Abbas’s vision, marking a clear divide in their approaches to Gaza’s governance and reconstruction.
Amid these complexities, Egypt’s recent high-level delegation to Washington aimed to secure direct support for its Gaza strategy, yet challenges in garnering clear commitments remained. There exists tension between Egyptian strategies and U.S. expectations, particularly regarding Hamas’s role and necessary financial backing from Arab states.
As Egypt continues to devise a reconstruction plan, several obstacles persist. U.S. rejection, hesitancy from other Arab nations, and opposition from Israel underline the uncertainty of the future. While Egypt strives to build a coalition and encourage international financial support, it may need to outreach to alternative allies to stabilize Gaza amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.
This article elucidates the complexities surrounding Egypt’s response to the Gaza crisis amidst pressing U.S. expectations and divergent Arab interests. Cairo’s efforts to construct an alternative plan face significant challenges, including internal divisions among Arab states, skepticism regarding the role of the Palestinian Authority, and the need for substantial international financial support. As geopolitical dynamics shift, Egypt may need to seek broader alliances to ensure the success of its reconstruction initiatives in Gaza, underscoring the intricate balance of power in this sensitive region.
Original Source: thecradle.co
