Trump Proposes Resettlement of Gaza Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan

In a recent phone call, President Donald Trump proposed that Egypt and Jordan should accept Palestinian refugees from the devastated Gaza Strip. His comments prompted strong reactions from Palestinian officials, particularly Hamas, who firmly rejected any offers of displacement from their ancestral land, emphasizing their determination to remain.

In a statement made during a phone call this weekend, President Donald Trump expressed his desire for Egypt and Jordan to accommodate Palestinians displaced from Gaza, which he described as a "demolition site." Trump conveyed this sentiment to Jordan's King Abdullah, stating, "I'd love you to take on more, because I'm looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now and it's a mess, it's a real mess." He indicated plans to speak with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi the following day regarding similar proposals.

The President suggested that this resettlement initiative could either be temporary or long-term, a notion that has not sat well with Hamas. A member of Hamas’s political bureau, Bassem Naim, reiterated their firm stance against such proposals, declaring, "Our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip endured death and destruction for 15 months… Therefore, they will not accept any offers or solutions." Naim asserted that Palestinians have consistently thwarted attempts of displacement throughout their history.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is critical; over two million residents have been affected by 15 months of conflict with Israel, leading to widespread destruction. The United Nations has estimated around 60% of Gaza's infrastructure has been devastated, resulting in calls for reconstruction efforts that could take decades.

Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, highlighted the gravity of the situation, saying, "You're talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing." He voiced a preference for collaborating with Arab nations to establish housing solutions outside Gaza. However, specifics of his plan remain unclear, and the White House did not include his remarks in their official call summary.

The Palestinian population, largely displaced due to ongoing conflicts, views Gaza as their homeland. Displaced resident Abu Yahya Rashid firmly stated, "We are the ones who decide our fate...We will not leave it except as corpses," emphasizing their commitment to their land.

Decades of U.S. foreign policy have aimed towards creating a sovereign Palestinian state, with Gaza central in these discussions, a stance opposed by current Israeli leadership. The Biden administration had previously denounced the forced relocation of Palestinians, further complicating the diplomatic landscape.

While thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in neighboring Egypt, they do not receive official refugee status. Similarly, Jordan has taken in over two million Palestinian refugees, descendants of earlier conflicts, raising complex questions of identity, belonging, and statehood.

Amidst all this, right-wing Israelis have expressed interest in re-establishing settlements in Gaza, following Israel’s unilateral pullout in 2005. Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised Trump’s initiative for transferring Gaza residents, advocating for "voluntary emigration."

The situation remains precarious, especially as reports emerge of delays for displaced individuals trying to return home due to ongoing tensions and recent allegations against Hamas. As the international community looks on, Trump’s remarks and the surrounding crises continue to fuel discussions about the future of Gaza and its residents.