Egypt and Turkey issued a unified condemnation of Israel’s stated plans to assert long-term control over Gaza during a high-level diplomatic meeting in Egypt on Saturday. The rare alignment between the regional powers comes amid heightened tensions over Israel’s military campaign in the Palestinian enclave, now entering its 21st month.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described Israel’s reported strategy to dominate the entirety of Gaza as “an inadmissible plan,” warning against efforts to reshape the territory. His Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, echoed the sentiment, accusing Israel of pursuing a policy to “de-Palestinize” Gaza. “We must address this openly: Israel’s goal is to transform Gaza into a land without Palestinians, replacing them with permanent Israeli settlers,” Fidan asserted.
The remarks followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments in a Thursday interview with Fox News, where he outlined a phased approach to secure control of Gaza, starting with the northern city of Gaza City. Israel’s Security Cabinet reportedly approved the plan on Friday, though officials did not explicitly confirm whether the strategy includes a full occupation of the strip. Critics argue such a move would deepen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to local health authorities.
The Egypt-Turkey meeting marked a diplomatic effort to consolidate opposition to Israel’s actions. Ankara urged Muslim-majority nations to unite in demanding an end to the conflict, framing the war as a broader challenge to regional stability. Egypt, a historic mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has partnered with Qatar and the U.S. in months of unsuccessful negotiations to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The stalled talks highlight the complexities of the conflict, with Hamas demanding a permanent end to hostilities and Israel refusing to halt military operations until the group is dismantled. Netanyahu’s latest statements have further complicated mediation efforts, drawing rebukes not only from Arab states but also from some Western allies concerned about the potential for prolonged occupation.
Gaza’s future remains deeply uncertain. The territory, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, has seen over 70% of its housing destroyed or damaged, with reconstruction efforts stalled by ongoing violence and blockades. Analysts warn that any attempt to alter Gaza’s demographic or political status quo risks destabilizing the region further, complicating prospects for a two-state solution.
As diplomatic channels struggle to gain traction, Egypt and Turkey’s collaboration signals a shift toward stronger regional coalitions opposing Israel’s wartime policies. The meeting underscores growing international apprehension over the conflict’s trajectory, with no resolution in sight as civilian suffering mounts.
