Donald Trump has stirred controversy by calling on Egypt and Jordan to absorb the majority of the Gaza population, suggesting it’s time to “clean out” the area, a statement sure to anger Palestinians and Arabs throughout the region.
On a flight aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed to reporters his desire for Egypt and Jordan to accommodate the Gazans, estimating a population transfer involving about one and a half million people to “clean out the whole thing.”
Such a proposal marks a stark departure from the longstanding U.S. policy that supports a two-state solution involving the creation of a Palestinian state adjacent to Israel, spanning Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Trump shared that he had already brought up this idea with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Saturday, with intentions to discuss it further with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in an upcoming phone call on Sunday.
As a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas entered its second week, Trump described Gaza as “literally a demolition site,” with substantial devastation and mounting casualties. He advocated for engaging Arab nations to construct new housing elsewhere for the displaced, suggesting a move might bring a chance for enduring peace.
He noted the population shift could be temporary or permanent, given Gaza’s prewar population tally of 2.2 million.
Since the conflict began in October 2023, both Amman and Cairo have steadfastly opposed relocating Palestinians to their lands, arguing it would equate to abandoning the Palestinian cause at the expense of Israel’s neighbors.
Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, reiterated via Reuters that Jordan remains unwavering in its stance against displacing Palestinians, emphasizing the importance of Palestinians remaining on their ancestral lands.
In previous statements, President Sisi expressed concerns that accepting Gazans might jeopardize Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel, fearing some could reignite hostilities from within Egyptian borders.
Hamas has expressed strong opposition to any plans to deport or remove Palestinians from their homes, urging both Egypt and Jordan to resist such endeavors.
H.A. Hellyer, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, warned that such a population transfer could destabilize Jordan, which already hosts a large Palestinian population, and could even incite conflict in regions like the Sinai if Palestinians were relocated there. The weak economies of both countries complicate matters; they depend on U.S. support but won’t risk being perceived as facilitating what many Arabs would deem a second catastrophe, akin to the 1948 exodus when Israel was established.
Hellyer argued that forcing Palestinians out of Gaza lacks backing from the Arab world and the international community, as it resonates with ethnic cleansing. He further stated that such a move would likely thwart ongoing U.S. efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, making immediate progress on that front seem dim.
Despite the backlash, Trump’s idea found favor among some of Israel’s far-right leaders. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed the suggestion as an innovative approach to achieving peace and security. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s former national security minister who resigned over the Gaza ceasefire agreement, also lauded Trump’s proposal.
Additionally, Trump revealed that the Pentagon had resumed the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, previously paused by the Biden administration. He assured that the weapons, already paid for, were finally en route.
Tensions remain despite the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, following the release of four female Israeli soldiers and 200 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli officials accused Hamas of breaching the U.S.-mediated agreement by failing to release Arbel Yehud, the last known civilian female hostage. Negotiators are discreetly working to secure her release, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that displaced Palestinians would not be allowed to return to northern Gaza until the matter was resolved.
Further complicating the situation, the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire appeared fragile, as Israel stated it wouldn’t adhere to the scheduled withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon. The delay sparked violence, resulting in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to over 80, amid attempts by residents to return to their border communities.
Additional report contributions were made by Sarah Dadouch in Beirut.
