Suggests resettling displaced Gazans in Jordan and Egypt as the region grapples with war-torn devastation.
Washington, DC [US], January 27: In a controversial statement, US President Donald Trump proposed relocating over a million displaced Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries, citing the region’s devastation following the Israel-Hamas war.
Trump claimed he discussed the idea with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, urging the kingdom to accept more Palestinian refugees.
“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 said aboard Air Force One, as reported by CNN.
Trump Suggests Regional Involvement
The President also indicated plans to approach Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi regarding the potential resettlement of Gazans in Egypt, which borders the war-torn territory.
“You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” Trump remarked, adding that Gaza currently resembles a “demolition site.”
He suggested collaborating with Arab nations to construct housing outside Gaza, stating, “I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing in a different location where they could maybe live in peace for a change.”
Jordan’s Position and Current Refugee Load
Jordan’s state news agency, Petra, confirmed a call between Trump and King Abdullah but did not reference any discussion on relocating Palestinians. Jordan, already home to over 2.39 million registered Palestinian refugees, according to the UN, has not publicly supported additional resettlement plans.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The United Nations has reported widespread destruction in Gaza, with Israeli airstrikes damaging or demolishing approximately 60% of the region’s infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and nearly 92% of homes.
Around 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, many forced to relocate multiple times due to ongoing violence.
Trump’s comments come amid increasing international scrutiny of the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and growing calls for comprehensive solutions to the conflict.