US President Donald Trump suggested that Jordan and Egypt should take in Palestinians from Gaza, a proposal that was quickly rejected by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in control of the enclave, as well as by both Jordan and Egypt.
When asked whether this would be a temporary or long-term solution for Gaza, which has been devastated by Israel’s military actions, Trump responded on Saturday: “Could be either.”
Jordan already hosts millions of Palestinians, and tens of thousands reside in Egypt. Both countries, along with other Arab nations, have opposed the idea of relocating Palestinians from Gaza, as the territory is seen as integral to any future Palestinian state.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has called for the return of Jewish settlers to Gaza, supported Trump’s suggestion, calling it “an excellent idea” and expressing his intention to develop a plan for its implementation. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected such proposals.
A Hamas official reiterated long-standing Palestinian concerns about being permanently displaced from their homes.
Palestinians
“will not accept any offers or solutions, even if (such offers) appear to have good intentions under the guise of reconstruction, as announced in the proposals of US President Trump,” Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told reporters.
Sami Abu Zuhri, another Hamas official, urged Trump to avoid repeating “failed” ideas from his predecessor, Joe Biden.
“The people of Gaza have endured death and refused to leave their homeland and they will not leave it regardless of any other reasons,” Abu Zuhri said.
Jordan also rejected Trump’s proposal, with Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi affirming the country’s “firm and unwavering” stance against any displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
Egypt’s foreign ministry echoed this sentiment, stating it categorically rejects the displacement of Palestinians from their land, whether “short term or long term.”
Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Trump’s comments, stating,
“Our people will remain steadfast and will not leave their homeland,” according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Palestinian analyst Ghassan al-Khatib expressed doubt that Trump’s plan would find support, saying Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, Gaza, and both Jordan and Egypt would oppose it,
“I don’t think that there is a place in reality for such an idea.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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