Egypt Rejects Israeli Proposal to Administer Gaza in Exchange for Debt Relief
Egyptian Foreign Ministry Dismisses Lapid’s Suggestion, Reaffirming Support for Palestinian Sovereignty.
Watan-The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to press inquiries on Wednesday regarding a proposal for Egypt to assume responsibility for administering the Gaza Strip for a certain period. The ministry stated that “any proposals or ideas that circumvent the fundamental Egyptian and Arab positions, as well as the correct principles for addressing the core of the conflict—namely, Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied territories and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state—are rejected and unacceptable.”
The ministry’s spokesperson, Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, said on Wednesday that “the proposal for Egypt to manage Gaza is a half-measure that would contribute to the continuation of cycles of conflict rather than achieving a final resolution.”
He emphasized “the organic connection between Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as Palestinian territories that constitute the territory of the independent Palestinian state, which must be subject to full Palestinian sovereignty and administration.”
This response comes after Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid proposed, during a discussion session in Washington on Tuesday about supporting Israeli policies, that “Egypt take responsibility for administering the Gaza Strip for a period ranging from 8 to 15 years in exchange for being relieved of its foreign debts.” Lapid stated that “after October 7, 2023, the world needs a new solution for Gaza” and that “Israel cannot allow Hamas to remain in power.
At the same time, the Palestinian Authority is neither ready nor capable of governing Gaza in the near future.” He added that “an Israeli occupation of the Strip is neither a desirable nor a feasible option,” warning of the consequences of ongoing chaos, which he described as “a security threat and a humanitarian disaster.”
Lapid Proposes That Egypt Administer Gaza in Exchange for Debt Relief
Lapid argued that this solution has historical precedents, stating that “Egypt governed Gaza for eight years from 1948 to 1956, then again for a full decade from 1957 to 1967, with the support of the Arab League in a temporary arrangement, whereby Egypt oversaw Gaza on behalf of the Palestinians without occupying it.” He added that this should happen again today.
He also asserted that this proposal does not contradict the idea previously presented by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the reconstruction of Gaza with the participation of the United States and the international community. Instead, it creates the appropriate conditions for such efforts.
Israeli and American statements continue to suggest plans for “the day after” in Gaza, at times proposing that Egypt and Jordan serve as reception areas for Palestinians from Gaza after the U.S. assumes control, and at other times attempting to outline plans for the administration of Gaza by Arab states.
