You can easily get a sense of how Egyptians feel about Trump’s Gaza proposal by tuning into their media, but their cartoonists take it to the next level, using humor to drive the point home.
While someone like Amr Adib on Al Hekaya might spend an hour with dramatic expressions to get the point across, cartoonists can nail it in one drawing, throwing in some humor to keep things light. Egyptians, after all, have a way of bringing a bit of lightness to even the most serious topics.
For some context, President Trump triggered massive outrage across the Arab world with a plan to permanently displace over two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, take US control of the area, and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” He also pushed for the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to Egypt and Jordan, despite both nations firmly rejecting the idea.
Below, Egyptian Streets has put together a list of cartoons that capture Egyptians’ take on Trump’s plan.
Trump goes to great lengths to support the displacement
In this cartoon from Al Masry Al Youm, Amro Selim shows Trump doing a handstand with the caption, “There you go, I’m standing on my head, now please say yes to the displacement.” The cartoon suggests that Egypt could never accept such a proposal, portraying it as childish and absurd, like a kid trying to persuade someone to buy them a gift.
‘No Comment’
In this cartoon from Al Masry Al Youm, Amro Selim depicts Trump with an exaggerated red nose, going head-to-head with the Earth. The image speaks volumes, but just from Trump’s facial expression, it’s clear the cartoon is suggesting he’s throwing a fit against the world.
A “Trumpian threat”
In this cartoon by Yasmin from Al Masry Al Youm, an older woman and a younger girl are being threatened by a man, whether he’s a stranger or the father isn’t clear. The older woman reassures the girl, saying, “Don’t worry, it’s just a Trumpian threat, which is lots of noise for nothing.” The older woman’s strength is deliberate, reflecting how Egyptian women are known for not being easily shaken by outside threats. In this context, the older woman likely symbolizes Egypt itself, standing strong and unfazed.
Trump’s Attempts to Isolate Gaza
In this cartoon by Elrayah Ombaddi from Al Masry Al Youm, Trump is seen as an anxious and injured man, perhaps a construction worker, trying to use a broken saw and cut a metal key, which is labeled as ‘Gaza’. The cartoon shows the impossible nature of Trump’s plan, which is meant to break Gaza apart, but the cartoon shows that Gaza can never be broken apart.
Roadmap…Gaza
Lastly, in this powerful cartoon by Khaled Salah from Al Masry Al Youm, the message is clear: there is only one roadmap and one key solution, establishing a stable Palestinian state. The white dove soaring above serves as a symbol of peace, suggesting that true peace in the region can only be achieved through a secure Palestinian state with strong nationhood and identity.
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