Egypt’s Gaza Strategy: Navigating Regional Divisions Amid U.S. Pressures

Egypt is strategically responding to the U.S. Gaza plan through a phased approach, seeking alternative solutions while managing internal Arab divisions. Recent summits reveal significant rifts among regional leaders, particularly concerning the future of Hamas and refugee resettlement. Diplomatic efforts to secure a cohesive response have faced hurdles, and Egypt continues to pursue international backing amidst a complex geopolitical landscape.

Egypt’s strategic response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, which aims to resettle countless Gazan refugees in Egypt and Jordan, is unfolding through a carefully orchestrated multi-phase strategy. Cairo, recognizing the destabilizing nature of the proposal, is striving to develop an alternative framework that would meet the interests of numerous stakeholders and avoid the potential fallout of the U.S. initiative.

The initial phase of this strategy commenced with a mini-summit in Riyadh on February 21, where important leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, convened. The objective was to discuss a unified reaction to President Trump’s plan and gauge the readiness of regional actors to resist U.S. pressure.

Subsequently, on February 26, Egypt sent an unofficial delegation of experienced diplomats to Washington, aiming to influence the Trump administration’s approach to Gaza. These representatives sought to leverage their extensive knowledge of American politics to assess how they could reshape the situation to Egypt’s advantage.

As tensions increased, Cairo organized an emergency Arab summit on March 4, with aspirations of galvanizing regional backing. However, the absence of key figures like the UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman highlighted significant divisions within the Arab bloc, revealing reluctance to align with Egypt’s stance without concessions.

The notable absences indicated underlying rifts that had surfaced in prior discussions. While there is willingness from Saudi Arabia for Egypt and Jordan to host some refugees, a primary contention remains over Hamas’s political future. Egypt desires a maintained presence of the group, albeit limited, contrary to UAE and Saudi preferences to entirely neutralize its power.

The UAE’s proposal for international oversight and a financially-backed Arab administration of Gaza was rebuffed by Cairo, which feared such a move would facilitate permanent Palestinian displacement. Furthermore, Jordan remains resistant to absorbing an additional 300,000 refugees by 2026, creating friction between the countries involved.

Behind the scenes, U.S. officials have actively influenced the situation. Recent American diplomatic missions to the region appear aimed at pressing Saudi Arabia to apply pressure on Egypt and Jordan while also keeping Israeli interests in mind. Notably, the Palestinian Authority’s absence from the Riyadh summit reflects a disconnect in views about Gaza’s governance, with President Abbas advocating for a restoration of PA authority, which has met skepticism from both Egypt and the UAE.

The Cairo summit faced significant challenges, reflecting the gravity of the crisis and the dire situation in Gaza. The gathering lacked coherent solutions, with participants wary of the implications of forced population displacements in a politically charged atmosphere. Furthermore, the absence of Algeria’s President Tebboune, who expressed frustration over his country’s exclusion from preliminary discussions, highlighted broader concerns about Arab unity.

Meanwhile, President Abbas’s competing agenda to re-establish PA control in Gaza encountered dismissal from key players, who regard such proposals as outdated, particularly given the PA’s long-standing unpopularity. This complex interplay among involved nations illustrates the multifaceted challenges facing any collective action in Gaza.

In conclusion, Egypt is employing a multi-step strategy to counteract the repercussions of the U.S. plan for Gaza. Despite diplomatic attempts to achieve a collective Arab response, profound divisions and competing agendas hinder cooperation. The absence of key leaders at critical meetings signals a fracturing of regional unity on Palestinian issues, as Egypt maneuvers to maintain its influential role while addressing external pressures and an uncertain geopolitical landscape. Thus, the pathway to a sustainable solution for Gaza remains fraught with challenges and requires careful navigation of regional dynamics.

Original Source: thecradle.co