Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has called for Israel to withdraw completely from the occupied Gaza Strip and allow the sustained delivery of humanitarian aid. This demand came during a telephone conversation yesterday with Nikolay Mladenov, director-general of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed the discussions, which centered on efforts to implement the US-backed plan for the Palestinian territory. Cairo's consistent position rejects any attempt to displace Palestinians from Gaza or place the enclave under permanent Israeli control, a stance rooted in international law and the rights of the Palestinian people.
Gaza Under Occupation
Abdelatty's call for a complete Israeli withdrawal underscores the ongoing reality of military occupation in Gaza. The demand for unrestricted humanitarian aid highlights the severe conditions imposed on the 2.3 million Palestinians living under blockade. These conditions are a direct consequence of Israel's control over Gaza's borders, airspace, and territorial waters. The Egyptian minister and Mladenov also reviewed the proposed deployment of an International Stabilization Force. This force is expected to assume responsibility for security inside the Palestinian territory, a move that raises questions about Palestinian self-determination and sovereignty under such arrangements.
The Illusion of Peace
The discussions took place within the framework of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, a proposal widely criticized for failing to address the fundamental rights of Palestinians. This plan, which includes 15 points, has faced significant opposition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally rejected the entire proposal yesterday. His rejection casts further doubt on any genuine commitment to ending the occupation or establishing a just peace. The US role, through its Board of Peace, continues to be seen by many as a guarantor of Israeli policies rather than a neutral broker for a lasting resolution.
Rejecting Displacement
Egypt has consistently pressed for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Its government has unequivocally rejected any attempt to displace Palestinians from the territory. This firm position also extends to opposing any efforts to place the enclave under permanent Israeli control. Such attempts are viewed as a continuation of the settler-colonial project that began with the 1948 Nakba, aiming to alter the demographic reality of historic Palestine. The international community, through numerous UN resolutions, has affirmed the illegality of occupation and the right of return for Palestinian refugees, yet these mandates remain systematically unenforced.