Former Foreign Minister Ambassador Mohamed Kamel Amr stated that the remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his circle regarding “emptying the Gaza Strip of Palestinians and starting to build settlements” reflect the seriousness of the proposals presented. He confirmed that the shift in the US administration’s stance is largely due to the personal dimension of President Donald Trump’s character.

During his interview with Extra News TV on Monday evening, he added that what came from the White House was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but directly linked to Trump’s unconventional personality, characterized by volatility and changing positions.

He cited examples of the American president’s positions including his handling of the Ukrainian crisis, his changing relations with Zelensky and Putin, as well as his contradictory statements towards Israel and Iran, up to his previous communication with Hamas and his changing stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Amr pointed out that “Trump sees himself as knowing more than all institutions,” noting that the personal dimension directly affects his foreign policy decisions, unlike previous presidents who relied on state institutions and agencies.

He added that Trump’s ambition to win the “Nobel Peace Prize” may be an additional motive behind his moves on the Palestinian issue.

Regarding Hamas’s reaction, the former ambassador confirmed that “the ball is now in Hamas’s court,” explaining that there are direct American threats and pressures, alongside attempts to involve influential regional parties in pressuring Hamas, primarily Qatar and Turkey. He revealed that a call took place between Trump and the Prime Minister of Qatar, during which Trump mentioned Netanyahu’s apology for an attack in Doha that caused a Qatari fatality. Trump also held lengthy talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, indicating that Washington seeks to leverage Doha and Ankara’s relations with Hamas to push it towards accepting the plan.

Amr explained that Trump’s insistence on positioning himself as head of the committee supervising the plan’s implementation links his name, reputation, and political weight personally to its course, which may represent a kind of guarantee. However, he stressed that the practical details still require deep discussion and close follow-up.

The former foreign minister emphasized that the Egyptian stance was the cornerstone in preventing any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians, and that Egyptian coordination with Arab countries was a central factor in shaping this position.