Egypt and Jordan believe they have succeeded in dissuading US President Donald Trump from his plan to occupy Gaza. The plan initially called for not only occupying Gaza but also evicting Palestinian residents and relocating them elsewhere.
A senior Egyptian official told Middle East Eye that Trump had been briefed on an alternative post-war plan for Gaza proposed by Egypt. The US president seemed to agree with this alternative approach.
According to the official, Egypt, with support from the Arab world, is working on an alternative plan for Gaza, which President Trump has reportedly agreed to. The Egyptian official added that Jordan's King Abdullah II had played a significant role in influencing Trump’s views on the plan during a visit to Washington, and this meeting is being regarded as an initial success by Egypt and the Arab world.
In their private discussions, King Abdullah warned Trump that the plan could potentially incite "Islamic extremism" in the region, undermining pro-US governments. The Egyptian official noted that Trump listened to the king’s warning attentively.
Hostage release in exchange for reconstruction
Egypt also capitalized on the momentum from King Abdullah’s meeting by continuing negotiations with Hamas, the governing entity of Gaza, to secure the release of six additional Israeli hostages. In return, Israel has allowed heavy equipment and mobile homes into Gaza for reconstruction purposes, after initially blocking these supplies.
The Egyptian official mentioned that Hamas had agreed to release the hostages but with the condition that Israel would allow reconstruction materials into Gaza. They also noted that Israel had previously faced criticism for not allowing food aid to enter Gaza, which led Hamas to threaten withholding the hostages.
Additionally, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to visit Riyadh to discuss the post-war governance of Gaza with Saudi leaders.
Trump’s proposal sparks global criticism
Trump’s announcement of the Gaza occupation plan sparked widespread criticism, both in the Middle East and globally. Arab allies of the US expressed concern over the potential for instability and a massive Israeli invasion of Gaza. Discussions were held to determine whether Trump’s proposal was genuine or intended to leverage concessions from the Arab world.
Several key figures, including Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, clarified that the US had no interest in directly occupying Gaza. Instead, Arab countries are expected to propose alternatives.
Second phase of ceasefire discussions
Israel has begun preparations for the second phase of ceasefire negotiations, set to begin in the coming week, which will address the governance of Gaza after the war. Arab states and the Palestinian Authority (PA) have developed multiple proposals for Gaza’s post-war government, which would exclude Hamas.
Egypt’s plan is gaining traction, with assurances that Hamas will distance itself from the creation of a new government. However, Hamas has demanded that no senior PA officials be included in this government.
In short, it appears that Trump’s initial stance on occupying Gaza is shifting as international negotiations progress, especially with the influence of Egypt, Jordan, and the broader Arab world.