Jordan and other Arab states are working on a plan to rebuild Gaza without relocating its residents, directly opposing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Gazans should move to neighboring countries.
Key Facts:
- Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated his country “cannot afford” more Palestinian refugees, as they already make up 35% of the population.
- Jordan’s King Abdullah II met with Trump in Washington but did not support the relocation plan, instead backing an alternative proposed by Egypt and other Arab nations.
- Saudi Arabia will host a summit on Feb. 20 with Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE to discuss the plan, followed by an Arab League meeting in Cairo.
- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit rejected Trump’s idea, claiming it aims to depopulate Palestinian territories over time.
- Safadi warned that while global attention is on Gaza, Judea and Samaria remain a volatile region that could see further conflict.
The Rest of The Story:
Jordan and other Arab nations are working on a strategy to rehabilitate Gaza without displacing its people, a stark contrast to Trump’s call for relocating Gazans.
Jordan’s foreign minister made it clear that his country is unwilling to accept more Palestinians, as they already make up a significant portion of the population.
“They don’t want to come to Jordan and we don’t want them to come to Jordan,” he stated at the annual Munich Security Conference.
King Abdullah II recently met with Trump in Washington, offering to take in 2,000 sick Gazan children and their families but refusing to endorse the broader relocation plan.
Instead, Arab leaders are rallying behind an Egyptian-led proposal they argue is more cost-effective and practical.
Jordan’s FM Ayman Safadi has said there is an Arab-supported Egyptian plan that aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip without displacing its Palestinian residents.
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— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 14, 2025
Saudi Arabia will host a meeting on Feb. 20 to discuss the plan before presenting it at an upcoming Arab League summit.
Meanwhile, Arab leaders warn that tensions in Judea and Samaria could escalate as the region remains highly unstable.
Commentary:
Trump has repeatedly suggested that Gazans should be resettled in neighboring Arab countries, but the reality is that these nations have no interest in taking them.
Jordan, for example, already has a relatively large Palestinian population as refugees comprise 35%. Even more concerning for the Jordanians is an estimated 70% to 80% of Jordanians identify as “Palestinian”.
Historically, Arab nations have been reluctant to absorb displaced Palestinians.
Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, has little incentive to take in radicalized individuals who could destabilize its government.
Other Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE prioritize security and economic stability over humanitarian resettlement.
Instead of allowing a flood of Gazan migrants, Arab nations prefer to manage the crisis internally, ensuring that Gaza is rebuilt in a way that doesn’t invite Western intervention.
If the United States were to take a leading role in post-war reconstruction, it could bring long-term U.S. influence into the region—something Arab leaders are keen to avoid.
The broader concern among Arab states is maintaining regional stability.
They are well aware that importing displaced Gazans could ignite political unrest within their own borders.
Jordan, for example, has long struggled with balancing its Palestinian population and maintaining its monarchy’s legitimacy.
Adding more refugees would only exacerbate existing tensions.
Given these realities, Arab leaders are coming together to form a unified strategy for rebuilding Gaza on their own terms, rather than allowing external forces—especially the U.S.—to dictate the future of the region.
The Bottom Line:
Arab nations are pushing back against Trump’s relocation plan, instead formulating their own solution for rebuilding Gaza.
They argue that resettlement would create security risks and political instability in their countries.
The Arab League’s upcoming discussions will shape the next steps, but one thing is clear—these nations want to handle the crisis on their own, without American intervention.
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