CAIRO – 31 January 2025: Massive Egyptian protests led by politicians, parliamentarians and political parties gathered at the Rafah border crossing on Friday to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian people and reject any proposals for forcibly displacing them from their territory.
Thousands of people arrived in Rafah today, some kilometers away from war-battered Gaza, to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid US-Israeli schemes to displace the population after more than 15 months of war.
Arriving there, the protests performed the Muslim obligatory Friday prayer then gathered carrying Egyptian and Palestinian flags and banners rejecting the displacement of the Palestinian people from their lands.
The protests come while US President Donald Trump has been pushing for relocating Gazans to Egypt and Jordan over the past week, despite clear rejection by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
“They will do it. They will do it. They’re gonna do it, okay? We do a lot for them, and they’re gonna do it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about his response to refusal by the two Arab countries.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi emphasized this week that a displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza would be “injustice that Egypt cannot be part of.”
In a press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto in Egypt on Wednesday, Sisi highlighted Egypt’s warning since the start of the Israeli war in Gaza in October 2023 of any attempts to make life in the Gaza Strip unbearable, ultimately leading to the displacement of the Palestinian people.
“The historical injustice inflicted upon the Palestinians, along with their previous displacement from areas that were assured for their possible return after reconstruction, cannot be allowed to happen again,” Sisi stated.
He emphasized that if such an event were to occur, the Egyptian people would take to the streets to reject it, declaring to me, “Do not participate in injustice.”
Sisi reiterated that there can never be any leniency or allowance for actions that threaten Egypt's national and Arab security.
He affirmed Egypt's determination to work with Trump to achieve a desired peace based on the two-state solution.
Meanwhile, Jordan's King Abdullah II underscored the nation’s “firm position on the need to keep the Palestinians on their land and to guarantee their legitimate rights, in accordance with the Israeli and Palestinian two-state solution.”
Moreover, Germany reiterated its rejection to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, stating that there is a clear global consensus on this matter.
A German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the Palestinian population must not be dismissed from Gaza, and the enclave must not be permanently occupied or resettled by Israel.
Since a recent ceasefire took effect between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza following Israel's approval under the terms of the agreement.
‘EGYPT CANNOT BE THREATENED’
Before protesters gathered in Rafah, the Free Egyptians Party emphasized that Egypt is “not a country to be threatened or coerced.”
“We are 107 million fighters ready to sacrifice everything for our homeland. Anyone who thinks they can bend Egypt's will or influence its resolve is mistaken and living in a dream,” said the party in a statement.
Parliament Member Medhat El-Kamar: Today's solidarity demonstration sends a powerful message to the world that Egypt will not allow any plans that threaten the stability of the region or undermine the rights of the Palestinian people.
MP Mohamed Abdullah Zain El-Din: “Our stance in support of Palestine remains unchanged. We reject any displacement that liquidates the Palestinian cause.”
MP Said Samir: The Egyptian people stand united in their position, rallying behind their leadership in support of Palestinian rights and rejecting any schemes aimed at undermining the existence of the Palestinian people in their homeland.
MP Riyad Abdel Sattar: - These popular demonstrations signify a message of peace and security to the world, reaffirming Egypt's commitment to the historical rights of the Palestinian people and the nation’s rejection of any plans that threaten regional stability.
- Egypt will not allow its land to become a gateway for the displacement of Palestinians or the violation of their rights. We stand with Palestine in its struggle for freedom and independence, opposing any initiatives aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause.
MP Hind Rashad: - Trump's calls for the displacement of Palestinians to Sinai represent an illegal and unethical endeavor, posing a threat to Egypt's national security and showing a complete disregard for the will of the people.
- Sinai is not a refuge for forcibly displaced Palestinians; it is an integral part of Egypt that every Egyptian strives to protect. Any attempt to impose unilateral or unconsented solutions by stakeholders in the region will find no acceptance in Egypt and will not be permitted by the Egyptian people.
MP Eman El-Agouz: - It is a steadfast Egyptian principle that the displacement of Palestinians from their land is not merely a red line; it is a line of fire that cannot be crossed.
- This massive turnout is not just a number; it is a clear message: no displacement, no compromise, no barter on the historical rights of the Palestinian people.
- Egypt has never succumbed to pressure, and it will not do so now. Those who bet on a retreat in Egypt's stance should revisit the lessons of history; this land has never known surrender and will not be today.
MP Ahmed Samir Zakaria: Egypt has been and will continue to be a bastion for Arabs and a protector of the Palestinian cause. The Egyptian people are well aware that what is happening today is part of nefarious schemes aimed at liquidating the Palestinian issue, but we stand as a solid wall against these plans.
MP Nasser Hadiya: The Egyptian people reject any malicious schemes aimed at destabilizing the region or liquidating the Palestinian cause. We stand with Palestine and support its struggle for freedom and justice.
MP Ghada Ali to Egypt Today: As our President has stated, we will not participate in the injustice faced by our Palestinian brothers. Egypt remains steadfast in its support for the Palestinian cause and stands against the injustice and inhumanity inflicted upon our Palestinian brothers.
Iradet Geel Party: Today, the diverse segments of the Egyptian population are voicing their commitment from the Rafah crossing, declaring that the Palestinian cause is inviolable and protesting against plans that threaten the Middle East and violate international law.
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