Washington has reportedly used Egypt’s water security concerns and Ethiopia’s dam project to push Cairo into accepting a controversial plan for relocating Palestinians from Gaza. A high-ranking US official recently visited Cairo and held separate talks with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad, discussing both the forced displacement proposal and the ongoing dispute over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam.
Sources suggest that US involvement in resolving the dam issue was hinted to be conditional on Egypt’s willingness to cooperate in the relocation effort. However, Egyptian officials firmly rejected the idea of transferring Gaza’s population, warning of its complex challenges and long-term consequences.
The US official also engaged with political figures and party leaders to gauge public sentiment regarding the plan. Reports indicate that discussions examined whether recent protests against the initiative were driven by broader anti-US sentiment or opposition to the displacement proposal alone.
A senior Egyptian diplomatic source acknowledged that Cairo might struggle to resist the US pressure without strong backing from Arab nations. Despite Egypt’s refusal, reports indicate that Washington remains determined to move forward with the plan.
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi recently held a phone conversation with former US President Donald Trump. According to official statements, the discussion focused on implementing Gaza’s ceasefire agreement and accelerating humanitarian aid. Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to regional stability and long-term peace.