Netanyahu Escalates: Calls Out Egypt and Gulf States in Bid to Push Gaza Displacement
Amid growing pressure, Netanyahu blames Arab nations for Gaza’s crisis, reviving the forced displacement plan and provoking regional leaders.
Watan-In an unprecedented escalation, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched sharp criticism at Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, accusing Cairo of turning the Gaza Strip into a large prison and demanding that border crossings be opened to allow Palestinians to leave the war-ravaged territory.
Not stopping there, he also sought to provoke Gulf rulers by openly calling on them to prove their concern for Gaza by welcoming its residents—a move that reflects his attempt to revive the forced displacement plan for Palestinians.
Netanyahu’s statements come after more than 15 months of systematic bombing and destruction in Gaza, during which the occupation failed to eliminate the resistance or establish full control over the Strip.
Netanyahu’s Escalation: Blaming Arabs for Gaza’s Crisis
Facing mounting internal and external pressure, Netanyahu is attempting to shift the burden of the humanitarian crisis onto Arab countries, particularly Egypt and the Gulf states, promoting a narrative that claims the only solution to the crisis is the displacement of Gaza’s population to new lands.
According to the statements that sparked widespread controversy, Netanyahu explicitly said: “Open the gates and let the Gazans leave the devastated Strip,” in an effort to portray the crisis as Egypt’s responsibility—despite the fact that it was his army that bombed homes, killed thousands, and displaced the population.
It appears that Netanyahu remains committed to the forced displacement plan, even though former U.S. President Donald Trump cautiously backed away from supporting the scheme to seize Gaza.
Netanyahu sees this plan as the ideal solution to eliminate the threat posed by the Palestinian resistance, which he claimed is multiplying unexpectedly and emerging from everywhere—underground, from the sky, and even from the sea—a reference to the combat tactics used by the Al-Qassam Brigades during the war.
Netanyahu’s Pressure on Gulf States: A Failed Attempt to Shift Gaza’s Burden
Netanyahu’s provocations were not limited to Egypt; they also extended to his Gulf allies, as he sarcastically remarked: “You’ve been talking our ears off about Gaza—now you have the chance to prove your concern!”—a clear attempt to pressure them into accepting the idea of forcibly relocating Palestinians to Saudi Arabia or other Arab countries.
However, this escalation was met with widespread rejection in Arab political circles. Gulf states viewed his remarks as a blatant attempt to force them to bear the consequences of his failed war in Gaza. Observers also noted that Netanyahu is well aware that Arab countries will not get involved in his schemes, as their calculations are based on security and political interests rather than Palestinian suffering.
Despite Netanyahu’s attempts to embarrass Arab leaders and impose a new reality, the people of Gaza know full well that their cause is not a political bargaining chip, and they will not wait for alternative homelands or political concessions from Arab regimes. Instead, they remain steadfast in holding onto their land, no matter what plans are devised against them.
