Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el Sisi (R) and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas meet in Cairo.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 17, 2026
CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has reiterated Egypt’s opposition to any plan to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, following renewed statements by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz about resuming large-scale military operations and implementing a proposed “migration plan.”
El-Sisi made the remarks Wednesday during a meeting in Cairo with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. According to Egypt’s presidency, the Egyptian leader reaffirmed that the Palestinian cause remains central to the region and stressed Egypt’s rejection of the displacement of Palestinians or attempts to eliminate the Palestinian cause.
The meeting came after Katz said the Israeli military was prepared to resume full-scale operations in Gaza if ordered to eliminate Hamas. Katz linked the potential offensive to what he described as a plan to move Palestinians out of the territory.
Katz Links Military Operations to Migration Plan
Katz said the Israel Defense Forces would be prepared to “finish the job” against Hamas and subsequently implement the migration plan.
He has previously said Israel was prepared to remove Palestinians from Gaza by land and sea, while claiming that discussions were underway with the United States concerning where Palestinians could go.
The remarks have not been presented as an agreed international plan. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has denied that Washington supports a plan to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza against their will.
Egypt has consistently opposed the relocation of Gaza’s population into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Cairo shares Gaza’s only land border that is not controlled by Israel and has rejected proposals for transferring Gaza’s population into Sinai since the war began in 2023.
Abbas Backs Egypt’s Position
Abbas praised what Palestinian officials described as Egypt’s steadfast position. He also briefed El-Sisi on developments in the occupied West Bank, including Israeli settlement activity.
The Egyptian presidency said El-Sisi emphasized the need for a political settlement based on international legitimacy and reiterated support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Egypt has also called for continued implementation of Gaza ceasefire arrangements, humanitarian access and steps toward reconstruction.
Wider Regional Implications
The exchange underscores a continuing divide over Gaza’s future.
Israel has continued to focus on eliminating Hamas as a military and political force, while Egypt and Palestinian officials have emphasized preventing displacement and preserving Gaza as part of a future Palestinian state.
The humanitarian consequences remain severe. Much of Gaza’s population has experienced displacement during the conflict, while large areas of the territory have suffered extensive destruction.
The dispute over possible population displacement also comes amid continued international concern over Israeli policies in the West Bank.
For Egypt, the issue of displacement remains closely tied to its security concerns, its role in Gaza diplomacy and its longstanding position that Palestinians should not be permanently removed from their territory.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Egypt is publicly drawing a firm line against the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza as Israeli officials discuss renewed military operations and a possible migration plan. The dispute places Cairo at the center of the regional debate over whether Gaza’s future will involve reconstruction and a political settlement or further military action and population movement.
SOURCES: TRT WORLD – Egypt’s Sisi rejects Palestinian displacement as Israel vows to ‘finish the job’ in Gaza
AL JAZEERA – Egypt’s el-Sisi rejects displacement of Palestinians from Gaza
