The assembly on Tuesday between Jordan’s King Abdullah II and US President Donald Trump led to tense anticipation of what is going to come subsequent for the Gaza Strip.
At stake was Trump’s suggestion that the US “take over” the enclave and expel Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan.
King Abdullah talked about throughout an impromptu information convention that another plan to rebuild Gaza with out ethnically cleaning it could be crafted by Arab nations, together with Egypt, which was already planning an emergency Arab summit on Gaza on February 27.
Hours later, Egypt issued a press release confirming it could current “a complete imaginative and prescient for rebuilding Gaza whereas guaranteeing Palestinians stay on their land” and reiterated its dedication to working with the US to succeed in “a simply settlement to the Palestinian situation”.
What’s at stake for Egypt?
“It’s onerous to understand how significantly to take Trump’s proposed US takeover of Gaza,” Jacob Eriksson, lecturer of post-war restoration research on the College of York, advised Al Jazeera.
“If Trump persists, nevertheless, it might put Egypt in a tough place,” he added, referring to Trump’s threats that he would freeze assist funds to Egypt if it doesn’t cooperate.
“At a time when Egypt continues to face mounting financial challenges linked to debt and inflation, this might have a big impression.”
Since 1946, the US has given Egypt greater than $85bn in bilateral international assist, together with army and financial help, in line with the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt.
And Egypt was the fifth-largest recipient of US international assist in 2023, receiving $1.45bn, 85 % of which was for the army sector.
Egyptian journalist Hossam El-Hamalawy stated that the help Cairo receives “is a press release that Egypt is an in depth ally and is a accomplice for Washington” and signifies sturdy political backing from Washington.
However cash isn’t every part.
Though international help is significant for the survival of the present Egyptian administration, so is inside political peace, which could possibly be destabilised if the expulsion of Palestinians is allowed.
“Technology after technology of Egyptian youth have had Palestine as their gateway into politics,” El-Hamalawy stated.
“As well as … [Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi] may be very anxious in regards to the replication of the Beirut state of affairs the place Palestinian resistance operations in a method or one other gave Israel a justification to enter Lebanon and occupy chunks of it for a really very long time,” El-Hamalawy added, referring to Israeli assaults on Lebanon and occupation of its territory for various durations, together with at present.
Counter-offer
For now, till Trump stops speaking about forcing the displacement of Palestinians, el-Sisi has reportedly stated that he’ll not attend any talks on the White Home.
Egypt has little alternative however to work with different Arab states on a counter-proposal that they will defend collectively.
“Any drastic motion might endanger vital agreements,” political analyst Abdallah Nasef, who believes Cairo must compromise somewhat within the proposal, advised Al Jazeera.
“Egypt might, just like Jordan, supply to absorb injured people and their households, albeit at a bigger fee and quantity than that proposed by Jordan,” Nasef prompt.
King Abdullah stated on Tuesday that Jordan might “immediately” take 2,000 sick youngsters.
Egypt has been treating injured Palestinians in its hospitals for the reason that begin of the warfare, and can doubtless proceed to take action in bigger numbers when the crossing opens.
“Whereas any important financial contribution to the reconstruction of Gaza is more likely to show tough given aforementioned financial challenges, Egyptian officers … would undoubtedly proceed to supply its providers as a mediator and a political accomplice,” researcher Jacob Eriksson stated, uncertain of how a lot Egypt might financially contribute.
Reconstruction efforts
Israel has stated that it’s going to not compensate Palestinians or assist to pay to repair the harm it has wrought in Gaza. As an alternative, it could be as much as regional nations and the worldwide group to implement any plan put ahead by Egypt and Jordan.
“One can speculate that, positively, [this plan] will contain enlisting large quantities of money and funds from the Gulf … to hurry up the reconstruction course of for the Palestinians with out displacing them,” El-Hamalawy stated.
Egyptian development firms do seem able to cooperate with a global effort to rebuild Gaza. For example, actual property and development tycoon Hisham Talaat Moustafa, stated in a TV interview on February 9 that he has been engaged on a reconstruction plan that may require the participation of about 40 to 50 development firms from Egypt and different nations.
“Egypt might contribute to reconstruction efforts whereas concurrently guaranteeing that Gazans don’t have to be compelled out,” Nasef stated, including that “They gained’t should if caravans and tents, which Israel continues to dam, are allowed into the Strip.” He agreed with El-Hamalawy, although, that Egypt’s efforts must be bankrolled by the Gulf, resulting from Egypt’s financial issues.
Gulf nations have performed a big function in funding the help reaching the Gaza Strip in the previous couple of months, with the Gulf Cooperation Council saying in December that its member states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – had collectively given $650m in humanitarian assist to Gaza, together with the occupied West Financial institution, since October 2023.
The reconstruction of Gaza, the place the overwhelming majority of buildings and infrastructure has been destroyed by Israel, will value way more.
However with Trump’s Gaza displacement plan complicating issues and a ceasefire deal in Gaza that has threatened to break down prior to now week, Arab nations are beneath stress to reply.