US State Dept. Says Egyptian Gaza Plan Falls Short Of Trump’s Expectations

The US State Department declared on Thursday that the Egyptian-led plan for Gaza does not align with the objectives set by President Donald Trump. According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, the proposal “does not fulfill the requirements, the nature, of what President Trump was asking for,” as reported by AFP. “It does not meet the expectations,” she further clarified.

This statement came in contrast to a more favorable view from Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East. Witkoff acknowledged the Egyptian-led diplomatic efforts but refrained from offering full endorsement of the details of the plan. “We need more discussion about it, but it’s a good-faith first step from the Egyptians,” Witkoff commented during a press briefing at the White House.

Witkoff also highlighted how Trump had been successful in “now encouraging other people in the Middle East — the Middle Eastern world — to present proactive proposals for what we might consider.”

Earlier this week, Arab leaders gave their backing to the Egyptian-led initiative, which aims to establish a trust fund to support Gaza’s reconstruction and to facilitate the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to the region. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi confirmed the proposal’s approval at the close of a summit in Cairo.

Sisi explained that Egypt, in collaboration with Palestinian Arab representatives, had formed an administrative committee of independent technocrats who would temporarily govern Gaza. This group would be responsible for managing humanitarian aid and governance in preparation for the PA’s return, Sisi said.

The Egyptian plan is seen as a countermeasure to Trump’s earlier proposal, which suggested relocating Gaza’s population to countries such as Jordan and Egypt while the US assumed control of Gaza and its reconstruction efforts. Trump’s controversial plan has faced widespread international criticism.

Following the endorsement of the Egyptian initiative, the White House responded, stating that it welcomes “input” from the Arab nations that supported the plan. However, it reiterated that Washington’s stance remains firm in insisting that Hamas cannot remain in control of Gaza. “President Trump has been clear that Hamas cannot continue to govern Gaza,” said Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council. He added, “While the president stands by his bold vision for a post-war Gaza, he welcomes input from our Arab partners in the region. It’s clear his proposals have driven the region to come to the table rather than allow this issue to devolve into further crisis.”

{Matzav.com}