By Gloria Ikibah
Leaders from Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt have firmly rejected a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, following his suggestion that Jordan and Egypt absorb displaced Gazans.
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas condemned “any projects” aimed at displacing Palestinians, emphasizing, “Palestinians will not abandon their land and holy sites.” He warned against a repeat of the mass displacements of 1948 and 1967, describing them as historical catastrophes.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also dismissed the idea, stating unequivocally, “Jordan is for Jordanians and Palestine is for Palestinians.”
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry reinforced Cairo’s position, asserting that Egypt supports the right of Palestinians to remain in their homeland and opposes any forced relocation.
Trump, speaking on Saturday, said he had discussed the proposal with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and planned to bring it up with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. He described Gaza as a “demolition site” and suggested that its population be relocated either “temporarily or long-term.”
Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, vowed to resist any forced displacement. Hamas official Bassem Naim stated, “Palestinians have historically foiled such projects, and we will do so again.”
The U.S. proposal comes amid a fragile ceasefire following 15 months of war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The conflict has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, with the UN estimating that nearly 70 percent of the enclave’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
Despite international backlash, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed Trump’s proposal, calling it a “great idea” that could provide Gazans with “a better life.”
The situation remains highly volatile, with Israel maintaining restrictions on movement in Gaza and linking the return of displaced Palestinians to northern areas with the release of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.