CAIRO (AP) – Leading Arab nations have firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring Egypt and Jordan, warning that such a move would destabilize the region and undermine prospects for peace.
In a joint statement, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League denounced any plans to forcibly transfer Palestinians from their lands in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Arab Leaders Reject Displacement
Trump first floated the idea last month, suggesting that Gaza’s 2.3 million residents—many of whom are now homeless due to the war—be moved elsewhere. “You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” Trump said, adding that the relocation could be either temporary or long term.
However, Arab leaders responded with unified opposition.
“An Act of Injustice”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi rejected Trump’s suggestion outright, stating, “The transfer of Palestinians can’t ever be tolerated or allowed.” He reaffirmed that the only solution is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, not the forced removal of its people.
The Arab nations warned that any displacement plan “threatens the region’s stability, risks expanding the conflict, and undermines peace efforts.”
Call for Reconstruction, Not Relocation
Following a meeting in Cairo, diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Palestinian officials reiterated their commitment to the two-state solution. They called on the international community to support Gaza’s reconstruction so that Palestinians can rebuild their lives on their own land rather than be forced into exile.
