Egypt says Israel's backing of Trump plan threatens ceasefire talks

Egypt on Thursday said Israeli support for Donald Trump's plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza "weakens and destroys the negotiations on a ceasefire agreement and incites a return to fighting".

The statement from Egypt's foreign ministry referred to "statements issued today by a number of members of the Israeli government", without naming them.

Earlier on Thursday Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had instructed the military to formulate a plan for Palestinians to leave Gaza, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal "remarkable".

Egypt said the plan "constitutes a blatant and flagrant violation of international law... and infringes on the most basic rights of the Palestinian people".