‘They will do it,’ Trump insists Egypt, Jordan will accept displaced Gazans
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U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday insisted that Egypt and Jordan will take in displaced Palestinians from Gaza, despite both countries rejecting the idea of forced relocation.
“They will do it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about Egypt and Jordan’s refusal to accept displaced Gazans. “They’re going to do it. We do a lot for them, and they’re going to do it.”
His remarks come after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II publicly dismissed any proposal for the mass displacement of Palestinians.
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Trump’s controversial proposal
Trump’s comments follow his earlier suggestion that Palestinians should be relocated to “safer” locations such as Egypt and Jordan after the destruction in Gaza caused by the Israeli airstrikes.
He described Gaza as a “demolition site” following the war, which gained a new chapter on October 7, 2023.
The relentless bombardment has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and displaced almost all of its more than 2 million inhabitants.
The proposal was met with swift rejection from both Egypt and Jordan. On Wednesday, Sisi stated that Egypt would not participate in any effort to displace Palestinians, calling it an injustice. Similarly, King Abdullah II reaffirmed Jordan’s firm stance against any forced movement of Palestinians from their land.
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Diplomatic push and ceasefire efforts
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently visited Gaza in what the White House described as an effort to stabilize the fragile ceasefire. Witkoff also held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19, halting months of conflict that, according to Gaza’s health authorities, as Israel killed more than 47,400 Palestinians, the majority being women and children.
Nearly 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, with 250 hostages taken to Gaza.
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Global backlash against displacement plans
The suggestion of relocating Palestinians has been widely criticized, with opponents labeling it “ethnic cleansing” and a violation of international law.
Amman and Cairo, however, rejected any call for the displacement or relocation of Palestinians.
Several Arab and Muslim-majority nations, along with European countries such as France, have condemned any plan that forces Palestinians out of their homeland. “France’s position has not changed: any forced displacement of Gaza’s population would be unacceptable,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“It would be a major obstacle to the two-state solution and a destabilizing factor for our close partners, Egypt and Jordan,” the statement added.
Despite the firm opposition, Trump said earlier this week that he plans to discuss the issue with Netanyahu when the Israeli prime minister visits Washington next week.
Netanyahu will reportedly depart for Washington on February 2 to meet US President Donald Trump and will return to Israel next February 6, though he reportedly may seek to extend his stay until February 8.
According to Netanyahu’s office, Israeli PM Netanyahu will take off from Ben Gurion Airport on Feb. 2 morning, meet with Trump in the White House on Feb. 4 , and depart from D.C. on Feb. 6.