Washington: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has emphasized a "complete Arab consensus" in rejecting the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza during his meeting with US Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen. This stance comes amid US President Donald Trump's reported plan to evacuate Gaza.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Monday detailing Abdelatty's discussions with Van Hollen, who is a member of the Senate's Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees. The meeting, which took place in Washington on Sunday evening, focused on "strengthening the strategic partnership" between Egypt and the US. It included a comprehensive exchange of views on the latest developments concerning the Palestinian issue, with Abdelatty reaffirming "the unified Arab stance against any forced displacement of Palestinians."
Egypt's foreign minister further highlighted the importance of creating a political framework to establish an independent Palestinian state and upholding the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
On February 4, President Trump announced a controversial plan for Washington to "take over" Gaza and relocate Palestinians under a redevelopment scheme, which he claimed could transform the area into "the Riviera of the Middle East." This proposal faced widespread condemnation from Palestinians, Arab nations, and several other countries, including Canada, France, Germany, and the UK.
The suggestion to relocate Palestinians in Gaza emerged following a ceasefire agreement on January 19, which paused Israel's destructive conflict that resulted in over 48,100 Palestinian deaths and left Gaza devastated.