Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty dismissed the notion of “voluntary displacement” of Palestinians as “nonsense,” stressing that the Gaza Strip is facing a full-scale famine caused by Israeli policies. Speaking at a press conference in Cairo alongside UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, Abdelatty said that the issue of displacement constitutes a “red line” for Egypt, Jordan, and Arab states, and “will not be permitted under any circumstances.”
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Abdelatty emphasized that Egypt has kept the Rafah border crossing open around the clock, holding Israel responsible for blocking aid deliveries. Abdelatty revealed that more than 6,000 aid trucks are stranded on the Egyptian side of the crossing, but Israeli authorities continue to deny them entry, amid what he described as “a puzzling international inaction.”
His remarks came in response to Israeli accusations that Egypt was closing the crossing, amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Cairo and Tel Aviv in recent weeks. On efforts toward a ceasefire, the Egyptian foreign minister urged Israel to accept a proposal put forward by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which has already been approved by Hamas. He stressed that Israel’s “persistent intransigence and imposition of unrealistic conditions” remain the main obstacles to tangible progress in de-escalation efforts. Abdelatty underlined that Egypt, in coordination with Qatar and the United States, has been exerting “serious and tireless efforts” to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
For his part, Lazzarini said Israel has “crossed every limit and red line,” calling for restrictions on humanitarian organizations in Gaza to be lifted and for aid to be allowed in without obstruction. He noted that humanitarian workers are “paying a heavy price,” and warned that UNRWA’s financial situation is “dire,” forcing the suspension of some of its programs. Lazzarini stressed that famine in Gaza is “a man-made reality,” adding that a ceasefire is essential not only to address the humanitarian catastrophe but also to pave the way for the release of Israeli detainees.