Egypt will propose a plan to rebuild Gaza: Egypt plans to “present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in a manner that ensures the Palestinian people remain in their homeland and aligns with their legitimate and legal rights,” Foreign Ministry said in a statement out early this morning. Egypt will also work with the US administration, led by President Donald Trump, to reach peace in the region and a “just settlement of the Palestinian cause that upholds the rights of the region’s peoples.

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We already have a plan: Egypt has already put forward two plans to rebuild Gaza without displacing its people, unnamed sources told Al Arabiya, reaffirming that Egypt will not take in Gazans and has firmly rejected three proposals involving forced displacement.

Egypt has asked the Trump Administration to clarify Trump’s statements regarding the withholding of aid, Al Arabiya’s source said.

Trump isn’t backing down: During a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah in the Oval Office, Trump repeated his vow to take over Gaza to which King Abdullah reiterated Jordan, Egypt, and the overall Arab stance on the matter. “I have to look into the best interests of my country … Let’s wait until the Egyptians [present their ideas],” he said.

Doubling down: “I believe we'll have a parcel of land in Jordan. I believe we'll have a parcel of land in Egypt,” Trump said. “We may have someplace else, but I think when we finish our talks, we'll have a place where they're going to live very happily and very safely.”

Baseless confidence: “We’re going to be able to work something, and I know we’ll be able to work something also with, I believe, not, not 100%, but 99% we’re going to work out something with Egypt,” Trump said.

Trump appears to take back threats to withhold US aid from Egypt and Jordan unless they take in refugees from Gaza — “I don't have to threaten that. I do believe we're above that,” he said.

IN CONTEXT- This follows threats from Trump earlier this week to withhold aid from the two nations if they refuse to take in refugees forced out of Gaza as part of his plan to push out Palestinians from their homeland.

El Sisi's visit to the White House may not happen soon? While Trump has invited President Abdel Fattah El Sisi for a visit, El Sisi has reportedly postponed his planned visit to Washington after Trump continued to push for the displacement of Gaza’s residents, unnamed sources told Al Arabiya.

ALSO IN WASHINGTON-

Gaza continued to top the agenda of Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty’s meetings during his time in Washington. The minister met with leading Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican Congressman and Congressional Friends of Egypt Caucus Co-Chair Mario Diaz Balart, Republican Congressman and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, Republican Senator and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Susan Collins, Democratic Senator and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Brian Schatz, and Vice President of the Heritage Foundation Victoria Coates.

Abdelatty’s presence in the country coincides with Trump’s threat to call for Israel to restart the war if Hamas does not release more detainees by Saturday noon. Trump’s demand followed the group temporarily suspending the release of hostages on the back of consistent and deadly Israeli violations of the ceasefire, which have prevented essential aid from entering the enclave and murdered numerous civilians.

A busy trip for the minister: Abdelatty spent the first half of his time in Washington in meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a handful of other US officials.

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