Egypt has firmly rejected an Israeli proposal suggesting that Cairo temporarily take control of the Gaza Strip. This follows a suggestion by Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, who called for Egypt to administer the Palestinian territory for up to 15 years.
An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed the proposal as a “half-solution” that would only exacerbate the conflict. He emphasized that Egypt would not accept any suggestions that go against the fundamental goals of the Egyptian and Arab stance, which include Israel’s withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The spokesperson reiterated that Gaza, along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem, must remain under full Palestinian sovereignty.
Lapid had proposed that Egypt take control of Gaza in exchange for canceling Egypt’s $150 billion foreign debt, with the promise of rebuilding Gaza and creating conditions for Palestinian self-governance. However, this idea was met with strong opposition from Hamas, which maintains that Gaza’s future should be determined through Palestinian consensus.
The conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 people since October 2023, continues to fuel tensions, as Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories remains a central issue in the region’s long-standing dispute.