President Donald Trump Suggests Displacing Gaza’s Population to Other Arab Nations
President Donald Trump on Saturday suggested that Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations should accept more Palestinian refugees from the Gaza Strip, potentially moving out enough people to “just clean out” the area destroyed in the Israel-Hamas war. Trump made the comments as he traveled on Air Force One.
Trump said he had spoken with King Abdullah II of Jordan and would speak with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt on Sunday, and emphasized that he was impressed by Jordan’s acceptance of Palestinian refugees, saying, “I’d love for 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.”
The president’s suggestion has been met with criticism, as many argue that it would erase the historic connection Palestinians have to Gaza and erase their identity. Former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, who is Palestinian, wrote, “Palestinians in Gaza—like Palestinians in the West Bank and Israel—overwhelmingly trace their ancestry to cities and villages in the region that today comprises Israel and Palestine.”
Trump also suggested that resettling the population could be temporary or long-term, and that something needs to happen to address the situation in Gaza, which he described as a “demolition site” where people are dying. He said he would rather get involved with Arab nations and build housing in a different location, where people could live in peace.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that senior Israeli officials view Trump’s statement as part of a broader move, coordinated with Israel. Trump also ended former President Joe Biden’s hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, saying he had lifted the ban because the bombs had been “bought.”
