Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, in an interview with CNN, stated that Egypt “will not allow temporary relocation of Palestinians to Egypt” during Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, as it would be a “violation of international humanitarian law.”
Shoukry told CNN’s Jake Tapper, “This would constitute a violation of international humanitarian law, and any form of displacement, whether internal or external, is a violation, and we will not become a party in such a violation.”
He mentioned that the Palestinians “themselves do not want to leave” and therefore “should not be forcibly displaced.” Shoukry reiterated that “the eradication of Palestinians by expelling them from their lands is unacceptable and, as I said, a violation of humanitarian law.”
The United States has also objected to any efforts to transfer Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, stated that Washington would not permit the forced deportation of Palestinians or any redrawing of Gaza’s current borders.
According to a statement from her office, Harris said, “The United States will not allow, under any circumstances, the forced deportation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the siege of Gaza, or the redrawing of Gaza’s borders.”
When asked whether the Palestinian people would be better off with a group other than Hamas, the Egyptian Foreign Minister said it’s up to the Palestinian people to decide.
