Powerful Arab nations have decisively rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring Egypt and Jordan. The joint statement, made on Saturday, February 1, 2025, was released following discussions among top diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League, marking a significant stance against the U.S. proposal.
Trump, who made his controversial suggestion last month, indicated he would urge the leaders of Egypt and Jordan to take in the largely homeless population of Gaza, stating, "we just clean out the whole thing." This remark came amid the destruction wrought by Israel’s prolonged military actions against Hamas, which left much of Gaza devastated and its population seeking refuge.
Some officials from Israel have hinted at the possibility of relocating Gazans earlier during the conflict. Trump referred to the region as "literally a demolition site right now," emphasizing the acute humanitarian situation faced by the 2.3 million residents left vulnerable by the 15-month war.
Nonetheless, the Arab nations swiftly condemned the U.S. proposal, labeling it as detrimental to the stability of the region. Their collective statement warned unequivocally against any plans to remove Palestinians from their territories, asserting such actions would "threaten the region’s stability, risk spreading conflict, and undermine prospects for peace and coexistence among its peoples."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took firm measures against the proposition during his press conference last week, declaring, "The transfer of Palestinians can’t ever be tolerated or allowed. The solution to this issue is the two-state solution. It is the establishment of a Palestinian state. The solution is not to remove the Palestinian people from their place. No." His sentiments reflected the widespread sentiments among Arab leaders concerning the need for diplomatic solutions rather than displacement.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi echoed similar condemnation of Trump’s suggestion, stating his country’s opposition was "firm and unwavering." Both Egypt and Jordan express deep concerns about the ramifications of such relocations, fearing instability within their territories and potential economic repercussions resulting from increased refugee populations.
Jordan, which already hosts more than 2 million Palestinians, and Egypt, which has its own population of displaced individuals, remain wary of the long-term consequences of absorbing additional Palestinian refugees, particularly if it leads to irreversible changes to their demographics.
The Arab leaders reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing pathways toward peace, emphasizing the importance of international support to achieve reconstruction efforts for Gaza. They urged the need for cooperation from the international community to “plan and implement” comprehensive rebuilding initiatives, ensuring Palestinians can remain on their land rather than becoming pawns of shifting political motives.
Critics of Trump's proposal have gone so far as to label the notion as tantamount to ethnic cleansing, asserting it violates the basic rights of the Palestinian people. Analysts have voiced skepticism, categorizing Trump’s statements as fluctuative and reactive to prevailing conversation rather than substantive policy proposals.
The meeting culminated with talks of sustaining the ceasefire established amid rising tensions and outlined proposals for empowering the Palestinian Authority (PA) to administer Gaza's governance, fortifying the call against the partitioning of the territory.
Significantly, the Arab statement also recognized the pivotal role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) during this crisis, deeming its contributions to the Palestinian populace as "pivotal, indispensable and irreplaceable." These declarations reflect not only solidarity among Arab nations but also the unified resolve to safeguard Palestinian rights and territorial integrity.
Looking forward, these leaders are set to engage with the Trump administration, affirming their dedication to achieving just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution framework they decry as fundamental for lasting regional stability. No date has been confirmed yet for the upcoming international conference proposed by Egypt, aimed at uniting global efforts for Gaza's reconstruction.