Key Takeaways:

• Israel has initiated preparations for the possible relocation of Palestinians from Gaza in accordance with Donald Trump's controversial proposal.
• Egypt is actively lobbying against this plan, warning that such an exodus could destabilize the region and threaten its longstanding peace treaty with Israel.
• Palestinians and much of the international community are firmly opposed to the idea, viewing it as a potential act of ethnic cleansing.
• Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations have also rejected any mass transfer of Palestinians, linking normalization efforts with Israel to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
• Trump's administration has since dialed back parts of the plan, stating any relocations would be temporary.

CAIRO (AP) — On Thursday, Israel announced it has begun preparations for the potential departure of a significant number of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, aligning with a contentious plan articulated by former President Donald Trump. Government officials have acknowledged that Egypt is engaged in an active diplomatic effort to counter this proposal, which has sparked outrage and rejection from the Palestinians and much of the international community.

Concerns linger that Trump's plan could result in permanent displacement, with fears that Israel would never permit the return of any relocated refugees, an issue that threatens to destabilize the region as emphasized by Egyptian officials. Prominent voices such as HuffPost underscore criticism from Egyptian leaders, who view the proposal as a direct threat to their peace treaty with Israel — a treaty considered essential for decades of stability and American influence in the region.

Saudi Arabia has similarly rejected the notion of mass Palestinian relocation, asserting that normalization of relations with Israel hinges on the establishment of a Palestinian state that includes Gaza. Meanwhile, Palestinians have voiced a strong determination to remain in their homeland, pushing back against depictions of the emigration as voluntary.

Activists and entities like Human Rights Watch characterize the suggested relocation as a form of “ethnic cleansing," a serious accusation that underscores the humanitarian and legal ramifications of such a plan. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that military preparations have begun to facilitate the emigration of Palestinians, with options for land, sea, and air exit routes. However, there have been few tangible signs of any preparations on the ground.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has not made public remarks regarding Trump’s proposal, but sources indicate a concerted effort on Egypt's part to communicate its resistance to both the Trump administration and Israeli officials. This includes warnings delivered to major political leaders within the U.S. Congress and across Europe about the potential repercussions for the historic peace deal that has existed for nearly half a century.

A diplomatic source in Cairo confirmed that Egypt views this plan as a severe national security issue, reflecting the broader concerns among Arab nations. Diplomats noted that during a recent gathering involving representatives from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, a unified rejection of the transfer of Palestinians was agreed upon. The backlash culminated in an editorial from Egypt’s state-run daily, Al-Ahram, declaring that “the Arab countries’ independence, their peoples’ unity and their territorial integrity are under grave threat.”

While Trump initially proposed a lasting relocation of Gaza's population, U.S. officials have since clarified that any movements would only be temporary and that there are no plans to deploy American troops or allocate taxpayer funds for Gaza's reconstruction at this time. This backtracking reflects the growing international backlash against the initial proposals, once perceived as an essential component of Trump’s Middle East strategy.

The geopolitical implications of these developments continue to unfold, as tensions remain high in the region following the recent conflict initiated by Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.