Senior Israeli security officials say it is not surprising that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have issued an official statement congratulating Egypt and the Arab Summit for adopting the Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, as a counter-response to US President Donald Trump's immigration plan.
YONI BEN MENACHEM -- Hamas and Islamic Jihad expressed reservations about only one clause, which deals with the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in the Gaza Strip.
From their perspective, the Egyptian plan is very positive, because it accepts their remaining in the Gaza Strip with their weapons. They will be able to continue to control the Strip from behind the scenes and pose a constant threat to Israel with their weapons, tunnels and weapons production workshops.
According to security officials, Egypt, which initiated the plan, knows full well that its chances of being realized are zero. It made this move to protect itself from the Trump administration, which expected it to present an alternative plan, given its opposition to the immigration plan His.