Cairo has signaled conditional openness to discussing the disarmament of Hamas and the potential deployment of an international force in the Gaza Strip — but emphasized that any such measures must be embedded within a comprehensive political framework that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.
The statement came just hours after US President Donald Trump met Arab and Muslim leaders, including Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Speaking at a high-level meeting on “the day after and supporting stability in Gaza,” Madbouly said that weapons in Gaza should ultimately be held only by legitimate Palestinian state institutions. He noted that Egypt has already begun training Palestinian security forces and is prepared to expand that effort with international support.
“Past experiences show that purely military approaches have failed to end Hamas’s presence or disarm it,” Madbouly said, underlining Egypt’s view that any security arrangements must be part of a broader political agreement with binding international guarantees, led by the United States, to ensure Israeli compliance.
Madbouly also reiterated Egypt’s firm rejection of any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians, warning that such actions would escalate the conflict and destabilize the region. He expressed support for an international mission in Gaza under a UN Security Council mandate — but only as part of a comprehensive political package that addresses the West Bank and East Jerusalem as well.
The Egyptian prime minister praised France’s recent recognition of the State of Palestine and Saudi Arabia’s efforts in organizing a “two-state solution” conference, calling both steps “starting points” for a just resolution to the conflict.
Meanwhile, Egyptian diplomatic sources revealed that Cairo had rejected a Western-backed proposal offering a substantial economic aid package — involving European grants and Gulf investments — in exchange for concessions related to the relocation or settlement of Gaza residents. Egypt, the sources said, remains unequivocal in its refusal to participate in any plans that could facilitate the displacement of Palestinians.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, casualties from the renewed Israeli offensive since March 18 have risen to 12,823 killed and 54,944 wounded. This brings the total toll since the war began on October 7, 2023, to 65,419 dead and 167,160 injured.
In a separate development, Hamas denied US media reports that it was preparing a letter to President Trump offering a 60-day truce in exchange for the release of half of the Israeli captives. The group instead welcomed Spain’s decision to impose a full arms embargo on Israel, calling it a moral and political stand against what it described as Israeli atrocities in Gaza. Hamas urged other countries to follow suit by enforcing a comprehensive boycott.
In New York, the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported that Trump’s meeting with leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia focused on ending the war in Gaza, securing the release of all hostages, and responding to the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Inside Gaza, the Government Media Office said that more than 900,000 Palestinians in Gaza City remain in place, refusing to be forcibly displaced despite relentless bombardment. It accused the Israeli military of spreading misinformation about aid access and shelter availability in order to pressure civilians into leaving.
On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi reiterated his country’s position during a joint press conference with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Cairo. “Forcing the Palestinian people from their land is an injustice we cannot be part of,” Al-Sisi said.
