Egypt on Thursday welcomed recent statements by US President Donald Trump, which suggested a change of course regarding the potential displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "Egypt expresses its appreciation for President Donald Trump's remarks on March 12, 2025, during his meeting with Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin, regarding his disavowal of any intention to force the residents of the Gaza Strip to leave." The ministry's statement added that this position "demonstrates an understanding of the critical need to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the importance of working toward equitable and sustainable solutions to the Palestinian issue." Trump told reporters on Wednesday that "no one is expelling any Palestinian from the Gaza Strip." The Egyptian statement also addressed a wider peace initiative, noting that Egypt "views President Trump's initiative to resolve international conflicts and establish peace, including in the Middle East, as a potentially practical framework upon which to build and collaborate. This should be achieved in a manner that respects the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, foremost among which is their right to establish an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital." Egypt reaffirmed its long-standing commitment "to supporting all serious initiatives aimed at realising a just and comprehensive peace in the region," and called on all international and regional actors "to intensify their efforts to advance the peace process in a way that ensures security, stability, and prosperity for the peoples of the region." Trump's recent comments stand in contrast to previous indications. Since January 25, Trump has been promoting a plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan. Both Egypt and Jordan previously rejected the proposal. Their stance received support from other Arab and European nations, as well as regional and international organisations. At an emergency summit held in Cairo on March 4, Arab nations agreed to reject any attempts to rebuild the Gaza Strip through the displacement of its residents under any pretext or circumstance. Egypt proposed a plan which received the backing of Arab nations as well as France, Germany, Italy, and the UK. The plan included the creation of a "Gaza Administration" committee responsible for managing the affairs of the Gaza Strip during a six-month transitional period. The committee, according to the proposal, would be independent, and comprised of non-partisan technocrats operating under the authority of the Palestinian government. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties and displacement. Since October 7, 2023, with US support, Israel has been perpetrating acts of genocide in Gaza, resulting in over 160,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, the majority of whom are women and children, and over 14,000 missing persons.
