Egyptian state media on Tuesday denied that US President Donald Trump had a phone call with Egypt‘s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi about the possibility of the country accepting Palestinians from Gaza.
Several Israeli media outlets on Tuesday, including the Jerusalem Post and Ynet, reported that the two presidents spoke by phone and that Sisi did not object to the idea. But Egyptian state-linked media quickly reported that such a call never happened, citing a senior government source.
Trump told reporters aboard his presidential plane, Air Force One, on Sunday that he thought Sisi was open to the proposal, as was the king of Jordan.
“I want them to live there without violence. Gaza has been hell for so many years. They can live in much better and more comfortable areas,” he said.
Referring to Sisi, he added: “I’ve helped him a lot and I hope he’ll help us.”
When asked by reporters whether he supported a two-state solution, Trump said he would discuss it with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visits to the White House.
His comments come after both Egypt and Jordan issued statements rejecting Trump’s proposal to “clean out Gaza” and forcibly transfer Palestinians from the territory to the neighbouring countries.
The Palestinian Authority also outright rejected the idea.
‘It’s over’
On Saturday, Trump described Gaza as a “demolition site” and said it would be better if “we just clean out that whole thing”.
“I would like Egypt to take people,” Trump said. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say: ‘You know, it’s over’.”
Trump said he thanked Jordan for having successfully accepted Palestinian refugees and he told the king, “I would love for you to take on more, ‘cause I am looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess.”
He added that the move “could be temporary” or “could be long-term”.
The overwhelming majority of Gaza’s population has been displaced by Israel’s 15-month war, which has devastated much of Gaza and killed over 47,000 people.
UN experts condemned the proposal as a clear breach of international law.
The deportation or forcible transfer of a civilian population in whole or part is a war crime under international humanitarian law.
When committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilians, it amounts to a crime against humanity, according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Also on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on the phone with Jordan’s King Abdullah.
The State Department said in a statement that the two discussed “the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the release of hostages, and creating a pathway for security and stability in the region,” but did not mention Trump’s comments.