Published: 10:32, February 27, 2025
Egypt rejects Israeli proposal for Cairo to take over Gaza administration
By Xinhua
Members of the Dwaima family stand on the rubble of their home, which was leveled by an Israeli airstrike during the Israel-Hamas war, in the Tal al Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City, Feb 24, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

CAIRO/GENEVA/GAZA - Egypt on Wednesday firmly dismissed any proposals suggesting it take over the temporary administration of the Gaza Strip, reiterating its unwavering commitment to a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Any proposals that circumvent the constants of the Egyptian and Arab position, and the sound foundations for dealing with the essence of the conflict, are "rejected and unacceptable," Egypt's official Middle East News Agency reported, citing the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tamim Khalaf.

ALSO READ: Gaza faces grim, uncertain future

Khalaf described such proposals as "half-solutions" that would only perpetuate cycles of conflict rather than achieving a permanent peace.

He further underscored the inseparable nature of the Palestinian territories, stressing the "organic connection between the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem," stressing that these territories constitute the land of the future Palestinian state, and must be subject to full Palestinian sovereignty and administration.

On Tuesday, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid proposed an eight-year minimum term for Egyptian administration over Gaza, following the war in Gaza, with the international community's settlement of Egypt's foreign debt as the incentive.

UN opposes forced annexation

Also on Wednesday, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk voiced opposition to proposals for annexation and forced transfers in Palestinian territories, warning that such measures could threaten security across the region.

READ MORE: Arab League strongly opposes displacement of Palestinians

Speaking at an interactive dialogue on his report concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Turk underscored the need to reject any attempts to normalize unlawful actions.

"We must resist any normalization of unlawful conduct, including proposals for annexation or forced transfer, which could threaten the peace and security of Palestinians and Israelis and of the wider region," he said.

Hamas condemns Trump

Meanwhile, Hamas on Wednesday condemned a video shared by US President Donald Trump promoting his vision for transforming Gaza into a seafront resort, accusing him of ignoring Palestinian rights and cultural identity.

Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, said Trump's proposals "ignore the real causes of Gaza's suffering, primarily the ongoing Israeli occupation."

"Unfortunately, Trump is reintroducing ideas that do not take into account the culture and interests of the Palestinian people," Naim said in a statement, adding that Gaza's reconstruction would be meaningless without ending what he described as the "open prison" imposed by Israel.

ALSO READ: Hamas demands release of Palestinian prisoners to resume Gaza peace talks

Naim said Hamas is ready to cooperate with any party seeking to alleviate Gaza's humanitarian crisis and support reconstruction, provided Palestinian sovereignty and national rights are respected.

On Tuesday, Trump shared an AI-generated video depicting Gaza as a luxurious tourist center featuring a golden statue of himself.

The video included an English-language song with lyrics stating "No more tunnels, no more fear... Trump Gaza is finally here."