Washington: US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning, threatening to cut American aid to Egypt and Jordan should they continue to resist the resettlement of Palestinians under his controversial plan for Gaza's future, which also includes the cancellation of the current ceasefire in Gaza.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Trump conveyed his message while signing executive orders to impose a 25 percent tariff on US imports of steel and aluminum. He stated, "If they don't agree, I would conceivably withhold aid." Trump emphasized the possibility of reaching agreements with Egypt and Jordan by leveraging the billions of dollars in aid provided by the US to these countries.
Trump reiterated that Palestinians who have left Gaza do not have the right to return and that his plan aims to provide them with permanent homes. In contrast, Egypt and Jordan have consistently opposed any actions that might lead to the annexation of land or the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, underscoring the importance of maintaining the Palestinian presence in these areas.
Further addressing the ceasefire, Trump declared that if all Israelis held by Hamas were not released by 12 pm on Saturday, he would call for the cancellation of the ceasefire, urging an aggressive response. Trump demanded that all captives be released in one go, rather than in phases, as had been practiced under the agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US.
The ceasefire agreement has experienced repeated violations by the Israeli occupation, prompting Hamas to announce a delay in the scheduled release of captives until the occupation complies with its obligations under the deal.
Trump's proposals have faced significant backlash from Arab and international communities, particularly concerning the US plans for Palestinian resettlement and the assertion of Washington's intent to control Gaza.
Meanwhile, Egypt has expressed its commitment to collaborating with the new US administration to bolster security, stability, and peace in the region, as stated by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry following a meeting in Washington between Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.