President Donald Trump’s bold plan to relocate Gaza’s refugees sparked immediate backlash from key Middle Eastern players, with Egypt and Jordan rejecting it outright. However, Jordan has since softened its stance, expressing willingness to cooperate—at least partially. Egypt, on the other hand, has taken a far more aggressive approach, digging in its heels and crafting its own alternative plan, one that could spell disaster for Israel.
Trump’s proposal, unveiled weeks ago, suggested that countries like Egypt, Jordan and even Indonesia absorb Gaza’s displaced population. Given the widespread destruction in Gaza, the logic is simple: where else can these people go? Rebuilding will take years, and even if successful, there is no guarantee that history won’t repeat itself with another terrorist regime rising to power. Trump’s plan, in contrast to the status quo, seeks to fundamentally change the region’s trajectory by moving the population elsewhere.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
Egypt, however, wants no part of it. Not only has Cairo refused to accept refugees, but it has also fortified its border with Gaza and amassed troops near Israel—a concerning move with unclear intent. Rather than engaging with the U.S. proposal, Egypt has instead pushed its own vision: an ambitious (and questionable) plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its people. According to Egyptian state media, their strategy involves setting up temporary shelters within Gaza while international construction firms repair the territory’s infrastructure.
The problem? The plan completely ignores Israel. Egypt has reportedly consulted European diplomats, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE—yet Israel, the most directly impacted nation, appears to have been left out of the conversation. The plan also proposes the creation of a Palestinian governing body unaligned with either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, a near-impossible task given the political reality of the region. And perhaps most absurdly, Cairo suggests building a security force composed of former Palestinian Authority police—an entity with a track record of failure in combating terrorism in Judea and Samaria.
Egypt’s rejection of Trump’s plan is about more than just Gaza. It’s a direct counter to America’s influence in the region, a statement that Cairo will not be dictated to—even by a potential future U.S. president. Trump’s plan sought to reshape the geopolitical landscape, but Egypt’s alternative does nothing to address the core issue: Gaza’s population has been a breeding ground for extremism, and simply rebuilding it without systemic change all but guarantees another Oct. 7, attack.
At the end of the day, Israel—not Egypt or even the U.S.—will have the final say. As Trump himself stated in his ultimatum to Hamas, the ultimate decision rests in the hands of the Israeli government. Egypt can push its vision, but without Israeli and American buy-in, it remains little more than a political gesture. And with tensions already rising on Israel’s borders, this is the last thing the region needs.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
