Watan-Egyptian diplomatic sources revealed that the brief visit of UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed to Cairo involved messages related to the escalation in the Gaza Strip, following Israel’s resumption of the war on Gaza and its reversal of the ceasefire agreement. Bin Zayed carried American messages that were discussed during a meeting between former President Donald Trump and the Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE National Security Advisor, Tahnoun bin Zayed, at the White House last week.
President Donald Trump received Tahnoun bin Zayed at the White House last Tuesday. Following the meeting, the United States announced that the UAE would invest $1.4 trillion over the next 10 years.
According to Egyptian sources, Mohammed bin Zayed’s visit to Egypt comes at a time when the U.S. administration is intensifying pressure on Cairo and Egyptian institutions that are rejecting Trump’s plan to relocate Gaza’s population into Egypt, after multiple countries declined to host displaced Palestinians.
U.S. Pressure on Egypt Over Gaza Resettlement
An Egyptian source stated that Cairo recently received a message suggesting this is the last opportunity for mutual benefit by allowing the transfer of a portion of Gaza’s population into Egypt in exchange for financial support and the injection of billions of dollars into Egypt’s struggling economy. The message warned that if Cairo refuses and insists on its position, alternative scenarios for relocating Gaza residents—though difficult to implement—are still possible. In that case, the proposed economic packages currently intended for Egypt could be redirected to support those alternatives. The source interpreted this as a veiled threat that Egypt might also lose American backing at international financial institutions, as well as a reassessment of U.S. aid.
According to an Egyptian source familiar with the negotiations, the current proposal includes relocating between 500,000 to 700,000 Palestinians from the area stretching from north of the Netzarim corridor to the Gaza envelope settlements in northern Gaza, as a first phase. Gaza would then be confined to the area from south of the Netzarim corridor to the border with Egypt. The source said there is a concentrated American-Israeli push for Egypt to absorb the displaced population from Gaza, while Jordan’s role is postponed to a later phase, when the plan would expand to include the West Bank—displacing large numbers of its residents into Jordan.
The Israeli security cabinet (“the Cabinet”) approved last night a proposal by Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz to establish a new administrative body within the Defense Ministry. This body would organize and facilitate the “voluntary” departure of Palestinians from Gaza to third countries. Katz’s office said the new administration would work on “preparing to ensure and organize the safe and orderly departure of Gaza residents.” This would include setting up travel routes, security checks at designated border crossings, and coordinating the necessary infrastructure to facilitate travel by land, sea, or air to their final destinations.
Egypt Rejects Gaza Relocation Claims
On Friday, Egypt “categorically” denied Israeli claims that it is preparing to temporarily transfer half a million Palestinians to a designated city in North Sinai as part of Gaza’s reconstruction plan. This was stated in a response by Egypt’s State Information Service to unconfirmed media reports. The agency stressed Egypt’s firm and final rejection of any attempt to displace Palestinian brothers.
The agency stated: “Egypt categorically and completely denies the rumors circulated by some media outlets that it is prepared to temporarily relocate half a million Gaza residents to a designated city in North Sinai as part of the reconstruction plan for Gaza.” It affirmed the falsity of these claims, describing them as “baseless and completely inconsistent with Egypt’s firm and principled stance declared since the early days of the genocide war on Gaza in October 2023.”
Cairo reiterated its “firm and final rejection of any attempt to displace Palestinian brothers from Gaza, whether by force or voluntarily, to any location outside Gaza—particularly Egypt.” It emphasized that any such effort would be considered “a liquidation of the Palestinian cause and a grave threat to Egyptian national security,” according to the statement.
The agency added that Egypt’s firm and clear position was the basis for the plan it presented at the recent Cairo Emergency Summit for Gaza’s Reconstruction on March 4, stressing that Egypt’s approach is based on the principle that not a single Palestinian should be forced to leave Gaza—a position that was unanimously supported at the summit. Israeli media had recently circulated reports claiming Egypt was preparing to relocate 500,000 Palestinians from Gaza to a city in North Sinai.
Bin Zayed Visits Cairo for Closer Ties
The official spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency said yesterday that bin Zayed’s visit was “fraternal,” reflecting the close brotherly ties between him and the Egyptian president. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hosted an iftar banquet in bin Zayed’s honor, during which the strength of bilateral relations was reaffirmed, and ways to boost cooperation in various areas were discussed to serve the aspirations of the Egyptian and Emirati peoples.
Presidential spokesperson Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy added that the UAE President thanked President Sisi for the warm reception, affirming the historic ties between the two countries and the UAE’s commitment to further strengthening them.
According to the UAE’s official news agency WAM, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and President Sisi discussed various aspects of joint cooperation and ways to enhance it, particularly in the developmental, economic, and investment fields, to serve their shared interests and meet their peoples’ aspirations for more development and prosperity. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing joint cooperation across all fields.
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