In a controversial proposal, US President Donald Trump suggested relocating over a million Palestinians from the war-torn Gaza Strip to neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt, following the devastating Israel-Hamas conflict.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed he had discussed the idea with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in a recent phone call. “I said to him that I’d love you to take on more, because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess, a real mess,” Trump was quoted as saying by CNN.
Jordan, already home to over 2.39 million registered Palestinian refugees according to the UN, acknowledged the call via its state news agency Petra but did not mention any discussion of relocating Palestinians.
Trump also expressed his intention to speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi about the possibility of Egypt accommodating displaced Gazans. “You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” Trump said, referencing the extensive destruction in Gaza.
He added, “It’s literally a demolition site right now. Almost everything’s demolished, and people are dying there. I’d rather work with some Arab nations to build housing in a different location where they could maybe live in peace for a change.”
The Gaza Strip has suffered immense destruction due to Israeli airstrikes, with the UN reporting that 60% of buildings, including schools and hospitals, have been damaged or destroyed. Around 92% of homes have been affected, leaving 90% of Gaza’s population displaced. Many residents have been forced to move multiple times, some as many as 10 times.
Trump’s comments come amidst ongoing international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as debate about long-term solutions for the region. His proposal, however, is likely to spark significant criticism, given the complex historical, political, and social issues surrounding the displacement of Palestinians.
