US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire for Egypt and Jordan to accept Palestinians from Gaza, which he referred to as a “demolition site.”
During a phone conversation this past weekend, Mr. Trump conveyed to King Abdullah of Jordan, “I would appreciate your willingness to take in more, as I observe the current situation in the Gaza Strip, which is quite chaotic.” He indicated that he would make a similar appeal to Egypt’s president on Sunday.
He noted that this arrangement “could be temporary” or “could be long-term.”
Hamas has declared its opposition to such proposals, and these remarks are likely to provoke anger among Palestinians in Gaza, who regard the area as their historical homeland.
Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, stated to the BBC, “Our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have faced death and destruction for 15 months… without abandoning their land. Thus, they will not accept any offers or solutions, even if they are presented with good intentions under the guise of reconstruction, as suggested by President Trump’s proposals.”
He further emphasized, “Our people, having successfully resisted all attempts at displacement and alternative homelands over the years, will also counter such initiatives.”
The ongoing conflict with Israel has resulted in the displacement of most of Gaza’s two million residents, leading to significant destruction of the region’s infrastructure.
Mr. Trump expressed his views while addressing reporters aboard Air Force One.
“We’re talking about potentially a million and a half individuals, and we could clear out the entire area,” he remarked.
“Nearly everything has been destroyed, and lives are being lost there. Therefore, I would prefer to engage with some Arab nations to construct housing in a different location where they might experience peace for a change.”
Mr. Trump did not elaborate on the specifics of his proposal, and the topic was not included in the official summary of the call released by the White House.
In response to Mr. Trump’s remarks, Abu Yahya Rashid, a displaced individual from the southern city of Khan Younis, stated:
“We are the ones who determine our destiny and our desires. This land belongs to us and has been the property of our ancestors throughout history. We will not abandon it except in death.”
For decades, U.S. foreign policy has supported the establishment of a Palestinian state, with Gaza being a significant component. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes this notion.
The U.S. has consistently stated its opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the occupied West Bank, with former Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserting last year: “They cannot, they must not, be compelled to leave Gaza.”
According to the United Nations, over two million Palestinian refugees, most of whom have been granted citizenship, reside in Jordan. They are descendants of approximately 750,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes during the conflicts surrounding the establishment of Israel.
Since the onset of the war with Israel, thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge in Egypt, but they are not recognized as refugees there.
In October 2023, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated his opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula, emphasizing that the only viable solution is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Some factions on Israel’s far-right advocate for a return to Gaza to establish settlements there. Israel executed a unilateral withdrawal in 2005, dismantling 21 settlements and relocating approximately 9,000 individuals.