Rapha, Egypt
–
The movement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip is a “red line” and Cairo will not allow them to risk Egypt’s national security or sovereignty, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatti said on Monday.
In an exclusive interview with CNN in Al Alish, a town in northern Egypt near the Gaza border, Abdelatti said Egypt “works through different channels for one purpose to alleviate the burden and suffering of Palestinians,” adding that mass Palestinian immigration from Gaza is not tolerated by its country.
“We won’t accept it, we won’t take part in it, and we won’t allow it to happen,” Abdelatti told CNN, adding that the displacement is guaranteed to be a “one-way ticket” for the Palestinians from Gaza.
The Israeli government has never given a detailed vision of what will happen in Gaza after the war, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly advocated for the transfer of Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, particularly after President Donald Trump came up with the idea earlier this year. But even after Trump seemed to have cooled the proposal, Israeli officials accepted it.
Egypt is the only access to the world outside of Gaza as Israel blocked its territory from the land, the sea and the air. Cairo has repeatedly denounced Israel for aid as he is under intense public pressure to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians and thousands of trucks remained marginalized at the border.
Asked whether the war is at stake in danger of Egyptian-Israel peace treaties, Abdelatti said that Cairo “respects and respects its commitment in accordance with the peace treaty,” but added that “all kinds of evacuation is a great risk and we cannot endanger national security at our borders and our key governance.”
The minister’s warning is some of the toughest since Israel said last week that it was in discussions with several countries about robbing Palestinians displaced by the war.
“If the Israelis can drive them away, we can ensure that it will be the end of the Palestinian cause,” the Foreign Minister said.
Egypt was the first Arab state to recognize Israel in 1979.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that talks with several countries are underway on assuming displaced people.
The countries involved are South Sudan, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Libya and Indonesia, a senior Israeli official told CNN. In exchange for incorporating a portion of Gaza’s population of over 2 million, authorities said the country is looking for “significant financial and international rewards.”
It is unclear how much progress has progressed in any of these arguments and whether they could be realized. South Sudan rejected previous reports that it was discussing Palestinian resettlement, saying it was “basically unfounded.” Indonesia said it was ready to bring 2,000 Palestinians from Gaza for treatment, but would return to Gaza once it recovered.
Earlier this year, Somaliland said there would be no such talks.
Abdelatty said Egypt maintains contact with Israel at the security and intelligence report level, but does not see a desire from political establishment to close the war.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a partner in Israel for peace and a two-state solution,” he said. “Currently, there are ministers in Israel’s cabinet who do not believe in the solution of the two states.”
Israeli far-right ministers called for the war in Gaza and the expansion of Palestinians from the enclave, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gwil and Finance Minister Bezarel Smotrich.
Abdelatty added that negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage trade are ongoing and “we have come to a certain degree of understanding of most of the building’s issues” regarding the latest proposal submitted by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
Last month, the US and Israel recalled the negotiation team from Qatar, where the talk was being held.
Egypt’s foreign minister said Cairo is in favor of a comprehensive deal that would end the war, take hostages back, release Palestinian prisoners and allow aid to flow in. He said the demand for Israeli Hamas to be disarmed immediately was a “impossible” condition at this stage.
“Israel now insists on disarming Hamas. Who will do that? How can we do that on the ground?” he added that Israel tried to eliminate the group through a 22-month bombing campaign, but still failed.
“We need to push now (for the transaction) now,” Abdelatti said. He said there is a delegation from Hamas in Cairo, and is in discussion with Catalis, Americans and Israelis.
“If you have political will, you can make a deal.”
On Monday, CNN saw dozens of aid trucks lined up at Rafa, where dozens of aid trucks intersect with Gaza. There, many convoys left neglecting weeks or even months, often causing essential food aid.
Abdelatty said that 5,000 trucks are waiting to enter the blocked strip on the Egyptian side of the intersection, but “the Israelis have not allowed them to enter.”
The three truck drivers told CNN they were waiting for more than a week for the green light to enter.
The father of three, Medhat Mohamed, had the truck turned back on Wednesday after a rejection by Israeli forces, adding that he spent the past three weeks parked along the Egyptian side of the border.
“If you come here with the truck, you can’t leave,” Mohamed told CNN. “Your assistance will be approved and you will leave or you will stay next to your truck, which may take weeks, or even months.”
He said it was a small thing that could be done to help Gaza’s hungry population.
“This isn’t about money. You can get a lot of money from work in Cairo because you want to help people in the way that Gaza can do.”
Another driver, Mohamed Fausie, told CNN he was carrying an ICU bed that was denied four times by Israeli authorities.
Amal Imam, executive director of Egypt’s Red Crescent, told CNN that he received prior approval from Israeli authorities as the remaining aid was denied but was rejected for containing metals and plastics.
