Egypt opposes any attempts to change Gaza’s demographic

Egypt has reaffirmed its unwavering rejection of any efforts to alter the demographic makeup of Gaza through forced displacement or resettlement plans targeting the Palestinian people.

In a statement released Friday by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo stressed that such proposals undermine Palestinian rights and violate international norms. The announcement comes amid growing international concern over humanitarian conditions in the besieged territory.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated the country’s position during his participation in a meeting of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza, held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF). The meeting was part of ongoing efforts to implement resolutions from the recent Arab Summit in Cairo.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tamim Khallaf, Abdelatty reviewed steps taken toward fully enforcing the ceasefire agreement that went into effect on January 19. He called for immediate progress on the second phase of the deal, which includes the release of captives and detainees, and a full withdrawal of "Israeli" forces from the Gaza Strip.

Abdelatty also presented upcoming regional efforts to push forward the Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, emphasizing the importance of empowering the Palestinian Authority (PA). He highlighted Egypt and Jordan’s role in training Palestinian police personnel for eventual deployment in the territory.

The minister further underlined Egypt’s ongoing diplomatic push—alongside Qatar and the US—to de-escalate the aggression, ensure humanitarian access, and resume the ceasefire. He stressed that Egypt has spared no effort since the start of the war to provide humanitarian aid and reduce hostilities.

Calling the situation in Gaza a defining moment for the Middle East, Abdelatty urged the international community to respond with unity and urgency. He emphasized that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without justice and dignity for the Palestinian people, and reiterated Egypt’s support for a two-state solution—based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Egypt is also preparing to host an international conference focused on Gaza’s reconstruction and early recovery efforts.