US President Donald Trump on Saturday (25 January) said he might want to see Jordan, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries acknowledge additional Palestinian evacuees from the Gaza Strip. Trump suggested relocating Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt to “simply clear out” the conflict-torn region, aiming to create what he described as a virtual fresh start.
Bedouin states, particularly Jordan and Egypt, have long opposed such propositions, seeing the mass movement of Palestinians as a likely existential threat. They have cited Israel’s hesitance to ensure the return of Palestinians who leave the Gaza Strip and are cautious about appearing complicit in their exile.
Numerous Palestinians are hesitant to leave because of fears of not being permitted to return. During the conflict that began on 7 October 2023, more than 100,000 Palestinians figured out how to enter Egypt, often paying high fees. However, they received little assistance upon arrival, as Egypt does not recognize them as refugees. Trump’s suggestion of relocating Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt has revived old concerns.
The Biden administration initially explored the possibility of temporarily moving some Palestinians to protect them during the conflict. However, the strong opposition from Jordan and Egypt led to the quick abandonment of the proposal. Check more about the Gaza war
On Saturday, Trump brought back mass Palestinian relocation to neighboring countries, aligning with his unconventional approach to international policy. As his administration seeks to maintain the fragile Gaza truce and plan for reconstruction, over 2,000,000 people remain in a region devastated by 15 months of war. Again, Trump suggests relocating Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt as part of his broader plan.
Addressing journalists on board Air Force One, Trump referred to Gaza as a “destruction site” after the Israel-Hamas war. He mentioned discussing the issue with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and anticipated further talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
Trump shared that he told Abdullah, “I’d love you to take on more since I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now and it’s a mess, it’s a real mess. I’d like him to take people.”
When asked whether this was a temporary or long-term idea, Trump said, “Could be either. “You’re talking about presumably a million and a half people, and we just clear out that whole thing. You know, over the years, it’s had many, many conflicts, that site. And I don’t know; something has to happen,” Trump stated, Times of Israel reported.
During his official campaign in October, Trump said that war-torn Gaza could be “better than Monaco” if it was “rebuilt the right way.” “It’s literally a destruction site right now. Almost everything is destroyed, and people are dying there,” Trump said on Saturday.
“So I’d rather engage with some of the Bedouin nations and build housing at a different place where they can perhaps live in peace for a change,” he added, suggesting once again the relocation of Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt. More news…
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