Gaza plans put Egypt-US relations to tough test

In the bustling coffee shops of Cairo, many Gazans who managed to escape the devastating war launched by Israel against Hamas in the Gaza Strip have gathered. Despite finding safety, they remain concerned about the safety and well-being of their loved ones back home.

In recent days, Egyptian intelligence officials have been meeting with Hamas leaders to solidify a fragile ceasefire agreement. Tens of millions of Egyptians are closely following the latest news developments, deeply aware of Egypt's close ties to the war in Gaza.

However, former US President Trump unexpectedly proposed a post-war scenario, suggesting the transfer of two million Palestinians to "a piece of land" in Egypt and Jordan so that the US could take over the territory. This proposal has sparked concerns among Egyptians, who fear it poses an existential threat to the nation.

Egyptians heading to mosques for Friday prayers expressed that Trump's idea is detached from reality. A civil engineer named Abdo said, "We will be transferring the battlefield from their land to our own! The Israeli army and the Palestinian resistance are eternal enemies, and there is no peace between them. This will mean we are giving Israel an excuse to attack those on our land in the name of self-defense."

Others emphasized that the idea of permanently relocating Gazans is tantamount to destroying Palestinian efforts to establish a state. They also stated that it would breed extremism and lead to domestic instability in Egypt. To convey a similar message, Egyptian President Sisi launched a behind-the-scenes diplomatic blitz. He is facing one of the most challenging moments of his rule, which could reshape Egypt's relationship with its key Western allies.

Egypt is hinting at potentially repealing its peace treaty with neighboring Israel, which has long been regarded as a cornerstone of stability and US influence in the Middle East. Washington has considered Cairo a close ally since brokering the groundbreaking 1979 agreement. Egypt has been one of the largest recipients of US military aid as part of the treaty. Last year, Egypt received $1.3 billion in military aid.

However, commentators on influential Egyptian nightly talk shows have been expressing strong criticism. A prominent host on a private television station, Ahmed Moussa, recently stated that US military aid "is of no value to Egypt." He insisted that Egyptians reject "pressure" or "blackmail."

Egyptian leaders have chosen a different approach from Jordan's King Abdullah II, who recently met with Trump at the White House. There, Abdullah adopted a conciliatory tone and promised to receive sick Gazan children but did not concede on the issue of Gazan resettlement. Egyptian reports indicate that Sisi refused to visit Washington if the displacement issue was on the agenda, although the US side maintains that no visit had been scheduled.

The war in Gaza has taken a severe toll on Egypt's own economy. Egypt says that Suez Canal revenue has lost $8 billion due to attacks on Red Sea vessels by Yemen's Houthis, whose attacks are a response to Israel's Gaza offensive.

The hope now is that by developing its own "master plan" for Gaza's reconstruction, Egypt can both avoid the highly problematic situation of large-scale Palestinian displacement and promote its own economic development. Egyptian real estate tycoon Hisham Talaat Moustafa, who is close to Sisi, has presented a $20 billion (£16 billion; €19 billion) proposal on television to build 200,000 homes in Gaza in just three years, without relocating Palestinians.

Professor Mustafa Kamal al-Sayyid of Cairo University said the plan is feasible: "I don't think it's impossible for the Egyptians to find safe areas for the Palestinians to move to, while rebuilding their Gaza areas." He also added that various "innovative ideas" are being put forward, including using rubble as building materials for reconstruction.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said before his trip to the Middle East that Arab countries "don't like" Trump's Gaza plan. "Now, if someone has a better plan - we hope they do - now is the time to put the plan on the table," he continued. Some Arab leaders are scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia in the near future, and Egypt has called for an Arab summit in Cairo on February 27 to discuss an alternative "comprehensive vision" for Gaza.

It is believed that these proposals include establishing a fund led by Gulf countries to help pay for the massive reconstruction costs, and reaching an agreement to marginalize Hamas. Israel and the United States have made it clear that Hamas, the Palestinian armed group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, must not play any role in the future. Egypt's ideas include training a new security force and identifying Palestinian technocrats not affiliated with any political faction, who would be responsible for early recovery projects.

However, reaching an agreement that satisfies Israel's hardline government will be challenging. Former US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken envisioned world powers and the United Nations playing a temporary role in Gaza until the Palestinian Authority (PA), which rules parts of the occupied West Bank, could take over. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to prevent the Palestinian Authority's involvement as part of his opposition to Palestinian statehood.

Egypt, like other Arab countries, remains committed to the long-standing international peace plan, the two-state solution, which envisions the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated its desire to work with President Trump "to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the region through a just resolution of the Palestinian issue."

Back outside the Cairo mosque, worshippers quietly pointed out that their country must strive to avoid a disturbing repeat of history. Egypt has already stated that it has sheltered more than 100,000 Gazans. Fearing the reception of more, some worry that their country could become a base for Hamas - an ideological offshoot of Egypt's own outlawed Muslim Brotherhood - which they believe could be strengthened, triggering domestic unrest.

Ultimately, Egypt's tough stance and confrontation with the United States has strong support. A shopkeeper who asked not to be named exclaimed: "Since we have taken in so many refugees, our lives are becoming more and more difficult. Imagine if we take in more!"

"Palestinians need to live on their own land, not on ours. We don't need anything from America."

"I support Sisi and the government, and we are ready to bear the full consequences."