Trump Proposes Relocating Gazans to Egypt, Jordan, Sparking Outcry

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump has proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, a suggestion that has drawn swift condemnation from both nations and Palestinian leaders. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, Trump said he would urge Arab leaders to accept Gaza’s displaced population, describing the territory as a “demolition site” after 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas.

“I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations, and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change,” Trump said. The proposal, which he described as potentially temporary or long-term, was met with immediate rejection from Egypt and Jordan, who fear it could destabilize the region and undermine efforts for a two-state solution.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called the idea “firmly and unequivocally rejected,” while Egypt’s foreign ministry warned it could “expand the conflict and undermine peace.” Hamas and the Palestinian Authority also condemned the proposal, with many Palestinians viewing it as a continuation of the 1948 Nakba, or “catastrophe,” when hundreds of thousands were displaced during Israel’s creation.

Human rights groups have raised concerns that Trump’s plan could amount to ethnic cleansing. Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, said, “This would exponentially increase the suffering of the Palestinian people and escalate ethnic cleansing.”

The proposal comes amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, where 90% of the population has been displaced and entire neighborhoods lie in ruins. Israel has not commented on Trump’s suggestion, but Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s coalition, called it a “great idea.”

Egypt and Jordan, both U.S. allies, have long supported a two-state solution and fear that resettling Gazans could make this impossible. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has also warned of security risks, noting that militant groups like Hamas could relocate with refugees, potentially destabilizing Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Jordan, which already hosts over 2 million Palestinian refugees, has vehemently rejected the idea of becoming a de facto Palestinian state. The country’s monarchy has long opposed Israeli ultranationalists’ suggestions that Jordan should absorb Palestinians to allow Israel to retain control of the West Bank.

Trump’s proposal could also complicate U.S. relations with key regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, all of whom support the Palestinian cause. It may also hinder efforts to broker a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a goal Trump has pursued during his presidency.

Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.