Egypt has intensified pressure on Hamas to accept a truce agreement,reportedly conveying to the group that its demand for a complete “end of war” deal is unrealistic given current Israeli conditions. With backing from Washington and Doha for a partial arrangement, Egypt has seemingly left Hamas with limited external support to prolong negotiations.

in a move to emphasize this point, Cairo convened various Palestinian factions, orchestrating a display of unity. With nearly every group except Hamas supporting the partial deal, the institution found itself isolated. The palestinian reform Stream, supported by Mohammed Dahlan, suggested Hamas should accept the deal “even without reading it,” emphasizing the urgent need to end the conflict for the sake of Gaza’s residents.

Diaa Rashwan, chief of the State Information Service, stated that the factions accepted the proposal “without objections,” signaling Egypt’s firm stance and Hamas’s near-total political isolation.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty highlighted the urgency,noting that Qatari and Palestinian delegations were “working on Egyptian soil” to maximize pressure for a breakthrough. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi publicly endorsed the deal, advocated for accelerated humanitarian aid through Rafah, and reiterated Egypt’s opposition to both Israeli reoccupation and widespread Palestinian displacement.

Egypt’s Red Line: Preventing Palestinian Displacement

Cairo’s primary concern revolves around preventing the displacement of Palestinians. Egyptian officials have consistently asserted that the mass movement of Palestinians into Sinai is a “red line.” They contend that such a scenario would undermine the Palestinian national cause and destabilize Egypt by disrupting the delicate balance within the peninsula, where various northern clans coexist alongside the Sawarka, Rumaylat, Tarabin, and Tiyaha tribes.

“without objections,” signaling that Egypt considered the matter closed and that Hamas’ political isolation was nearly total.

North Sinai, encompassing approximately 10,650 square miles, is home to only 450,000 to 500,000 people. An influx of 200,000 Gazans could nearly double the size of El Arish, straining resources, exacerbating tribal tensions, and jeopardizing Egyptian sovereignty in a region already characterized by fragile control.

Adding to Cairo’s concerns are reports regarding potential relocation of Palestinians to other countries. While reports of confidential talks about relocating Palestinians to South Sudan have been denied by Juba, the mere suggestion alarms Cairo. The Egyptian government views any population transfer, whether to Sinai or elsewhere, as demographic engineering and a violation of its core principles.