Sisi calls for support for plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing Palestinians

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi yesterday called on the international community to support a plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip without displacing Palestinians, stressing his country’s firm position on the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

His appeal was made during a press conference in Madrid with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, according to Al-Qahera news channel.

Since 25 January, US President Donald Trump has been promoting a plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan. Both countries have rejected the plan as have other Arab states and regional and international organisations, with UN experts highlighting that it amounts to forced displacement and ethnic cleansing.

The ceasefire agreement went into effect on 19 January, and consists of three phases, each lasting 42 days. Negotiations are underway to start the second phase of the deal, under the mediation of Egypt and Qatar and with the support of the US.

The Egyptian president said: “The international community must support the plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing the Palestinian people from their land to which they cling, and their homeland which they will not accept to abandon, in a way that ensures the immediate start of relief operations and early recovery.”

Cairo is scheduled to host an emergency Arab summit on 4 March to discuss the plan that counters Trump’s proposal, stating that it has prepared a comprehensive proposal to rebuild Gaza without displacing its Palestinian inhabitants.

The Spanish prime minister stressed Spain’s firm rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians, asserting that the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is unethical and constitutes a violation of international law.

Sanchez also reiterated Madrid’s commitment to political efforts that reinforce the two-state solution, noting that the region is experiencing complex challenges due to the repercussions of the situation in Gaza.

READ: Egypt says preparing ‘comprehensive’ plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing Palestinians