Trump’s suggestion on relocation of Gazans faces widespread rejection
New Delhi, Jan 27: US President Donald Trump has said he wants Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from Gaza, according to the BBC. The idea has however been widely rejected.
Speaking on Air Force One, Trump said he had asked Jordan’s King Abdullah and planned to ask Egypt’s president as well. He described Gaza as a “demolition site” and suggested relocating Palestinians, saying it “could be temporary” or “could be long-term.”
However, the idea has been widely rejected. Both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority condemned the proposal, while Egypt and Jordan also refused to accept it.
Egypt’s foreign ministry said it opposed any effort to displace Palestinians, whether temporarily or permanently. Jordan’s foreign minister also stated that the country firmly rejects any plan to relocate Palestinians, according to the BBC.
In Gaza, Bassem Naim from Hamas told the BBC that Palestinians had endured destruction for 15 months and would not accept any plans to leave their land. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also strongly rejected the proposal.
A ceasefire is currently in place in Gaza after Israel and Hamas agreed to halt fighting. The war started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, more than 47,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel’s military offensive. Most of Gaza’s two million residents have been displaced, with much of the territory’s infrastructure destroyed. The UN estimates it could take decades to rebuild.
Trump’s comments come as many displaced people in Gaza are trying to return to their homes. Israel recently delayed their return, accusing Hamas of violating a ceasefire agreement.
Trump also claimed he had lifted former President Joe Biden’s hold on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, saying they had “paid for them and been waiting for a long time.” The US is Israel’s biggest arms supplier, but the destruction in Gaza has lead to calls for Washington to reduce or stop arms shipments.
According to the UN, Jordan already hosts more than two million Palestinian refugees, many of whom are descendants of those displaced when Israel was established.