عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Egypt: Transfer of Palestinians ‘Risks Expanding’ Conflict in the Region

A man supports himself on crutches as he stands next to vehicles with Palestinians waiting to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza by vehicle through Salahudeen road after they were displaced to the south at Israel's order during the war, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip, January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
A man supports himself on crutches as he stands next to vehicles with Palestinians waiting to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza by vehicle through Salahudeen road after they were displaced to the south at Israel's order during the war, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip, January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
TT
20
TT

Egypt: Transfer of Palestinians ‘Risks Expanding’ Conflict in the Region

A man supports himself on crutches as he stands next to vehicles with Palestinians waiting to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza by vehicle through Salahudeen road after they were displaced to the south at Israel's order during the war, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip, January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
A man supports himself on crutches as he stands next to vehicles with Palestinians waiting to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza by vehicle through Salahudeen road after they were displaced to the south at Israel's order during the war, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip, January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

Egypt has rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal on the transfer of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

The temporary or long-term transfer of Palestinians “risks expanding the conflict in the region and undermines prospects of peace and coexistence among its people,” Egypt’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Trump floated the idea on Saturday, saying he would urge the leaders of both Egypt and Jordan to take in Gaza's now largely homeless population, so that "we just clean out that whole thing.”

He added that resettling most of Gaza's population of 2.3 million could be temporary or long term.

“It’s literally a demolition site right now,” Trump said, referring to the vast destruction caused by Israel's 15-month war with Hamas, now paused by a fragile ceasefire.
“I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations, and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change," Trump said.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Six Local Officials Detained Over Iraq Deadly Mall Fire

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits a five-story shopping center after a massive overnight fire killed multiple people, in Al-Kut, Wasit province, Iraq, July 17, 2025. Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office/Handout via REUTERS
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits a five-story shopping center after a massive overnight fire killed multiple people, in Al-Kut, Wasit province, Iraq, July 17, 2025. Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office/Handout via REUTERS
TT
20
TT

Six Local Officials Detained Over Iraq Deadly Mall Fire

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits a five-story shopping center after a massive overnight fire killed multiple people, in Al-Kut, Wasit province, Iraq, July 17, 2025. Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office/Handout via REUTERS
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits a five-story shopping center after a massive overnight fire killed multiple people, in Al-Kut, Wasit province, Iraq, July 17, 2025. Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office/Handout via REUTERS

Iraq has detained six local officials and suspended other public employees following a fire that killed 61 people at a shopping mall earlier this week, authorities said Saturday.

The blaze broke out late Wednesday in a newly opened shopping mall in the eastern city of Kut.

After an initial investigation, the interior ministry said "there was clear negligence among several officials and employees" in Kut, located around 160 kilometers southeast of Baghdad.

It added that three local officials, including the head of civil defense in Kut, had been detained, and 17 employees suspended from work until further notice.

The Commission of Integrity, an anti-graft body, said later that security forces had detained three more officials "over the violations that led to the fire" at the Corniche Hypermarket Mall, including the head of the violations department at Kut's municipality.

Officials say their investigation is ongoing, and the number of detainees may change.

The cause of the mall fire was not immediately known, but one survivor told AFP an air conditioner had exploded on the second floor before the five-story building was rapidly engulfed in flames.

Several people told AFP they lost family members -- and in some cases whole families -- who had gone to shop and dine at the mall days after it opened.