Peloni: While Qatar moves closer to Washington, Egypt moves further away… The regional contest between the US and Egypt continues to grow and the consequence of this will likely add to the causes for Hamas’ ultimate rejection of Trump’s 20 Point Plan.
A resolution brokered by others, or one that diminishes Egypt’s role as the indispensable mediator, threatens Cairo’s geopolitical influence
Khaled Hassan, Mohamed Saad Khiralla | Middle East Forum | October 2, 2025
President Donald Trump welcomes Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Monday, April 3, 2017, at the West Wing entrance of the White House in Washington, D.C. ( Photo by The White House from Washington, DC – Foreign Leader Visits, Public Domain, Wikipedia)
Egypt is playing a dangerous double game. While publicly aligned with American efforts to stabilize the region, the Cairo regime undermines President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. Ziyad al-Nakhalah, secretary-general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, fired the first rhetorical shot against the U.S.-Israeli proposal from the heart of Cairo, where he resides under the security and control of the Egyptian state. Reports confirm that Cairo has not only provided him a safe haven but also granted formal residency permits to him and other militant leaders, effectively institutionalizing their presence.
Read more…