Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that Jordan and Egypt should accept Palestinians displaced from war-torn Gaza, a proposal that has drawn sharp criticism from Hamas, the governments of Jordan and Egypt, and Palestinian leadership.
Speaking to reporters, Trump described Gaza as “a mess” and proposed relocating Palestinians to neighboring countries. When asked whether the plan was a temporary or permanent solution, he replied, “Could be either.”
Regional Resistance to Displacement
Jordan, which already hosts millions of Palestinians, and Egypt, home to tens of thousands, have both categorically rejected the idea. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi reiterated the kingdom’s “firm and unwavering” stance against any displacement of Palestinians. Egypt’s foreign ministry issued a similar rejection, stating it opposes any forced relocation of Palestinians, whether temporary or permanent.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the remarks, asserting, “Our people will remain steadfast and will not leave their homeland.” The official Palestinian news agency WAFA also published a statement rejecting the proposal.
Hamas officials labeled the suggestion a thinly veiled attempt to permanently displace Palestinians. Basem Naim of Hamas’s political bureau stated, “Palestinians will not accept any solutions that appear to have good intentions under the guise of reconstruction.”
Israeli Reactions and Controversy
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed such relocation plans in the past, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised Trump’s proposal as “an excellent idea.” Smotrich suggested that it would enable Palestinians to “build new and better lives elsewhere.”
Smotrich further announced plans to work with the Israeli cabinet to develop a strategy for implementing the proposal. However, U.N. Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese strongly condemned the idea, describing it as “ethnic cleansing” and labeling it “illegal, immoral, and irresponsible.”
Humanitarian and Political Concerns
The conflict in Gaza, which erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has left Gaza in ruins. The war has killed over 47,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Trump’s proposal has been criticized for its potential to deepen regional instability. Magdy Seidam, a displaced Palestinian in Gaza, rejected the suggestion outright. “This land is ours; this soil is ours. No matter how much Israel tries to destroy and break us, they have not won,” he said.
Rights groups and humanitarian organizations continue to highlight the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, urging a focus on long-term solutions rather than forced displacement.
Ceasefire Context
The proposal comes as a fragile ceasefire pauses the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The current conflict has its origins in the October 7 attack by Hamas, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in approximately 250 hostages being taken.
Washington has previously opposed the forcible displacement of Palestinians and continues to face criticism for its strong backing of Israel. Trump’s remarks, however, have reignited fears of forced relocation and intensified the already polarized debate surrounding the future of Gaza and its people.
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