Egypt on Tuesday reaffirmed its opposition to any proposals aimed at displacing Palestinians, warning that such moves would undermine the Palestinian cause and pose a threat to regional security.
In a statement, the Egyptian presidency rejected reported efforts to relocate Gaza’s more than 2 million residents, a plan that has sparked widespread condemnation across the Arab world.
The issue is expected to take center stage at an emergency Arab League summit in Cairo on March 4, where leaders will discuss efforts to counter the U.S.-backed proposal, which calls for Egypt and Jordan to resettle displaced Palestinians. Both countries have firmly opposed the plan, citing security risks.
Arab leaders met last week in Riyadh, where discussions included an Egyptian-backed initiative that could see up to $20 billion in financial assistance over three years from Gulf and Arab states, according to sources familiar with the talks. However, no official confirmation has been made.
The plan has raised fears of a repeat of the “Nakba,” or catastrophe, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled or fled their homes during the creation of Israel in 1948.