DORAL, Fla. — President Donald Trump’s initiative urging Egypt and Jordan to accept a substantial number of Palestinian refugees from the war-torn Gaza Strip has not resonated well with the governments of those nations, leaving a key congressional ally puzzled over the situation. Currently, a fragile ceasefire pauses the hostilities that ignited after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, leading to widespread homelessness among Gaza’s population as a result of Israeli military actions.
During a press briefing on Air Force One, Trump expressed his desire to relocate about 1.5 million residents from Gaza, remarking that such a move might essentially “clean out that whole thing.” In a call with Jordan’s King Abdullah, the President conveyed, “I’d love for you to take on more because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess.” Trump stated that he was also engaging in a similar discussion with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, indicating he would “like Egypt to take people and I’d like Jordan to take people.”
However, both Jordan and Egypt, along with Palestinian leaders, have concerns regarding Israel’s potential refusal to allow the displaced residents to return to Gaza after they leave. Additionally, the economies in both countries are already struggling, and there are fears that an influx of refugees could destabilize their nations and the surrounding region.
Jordan is currently home to over two million Palestinian refugees, while Egypt has raised alarms regarding the security issues that might arise from relocating large numbers of Palestinians to the Sinai Peninsula, which borders Gaza. Trump suggested the possibility of resettling most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents either temporarily or permanently.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated unequivocally that their stance against Trump’s proposal is “firm and unwavering,” after earlier discussions suggested similar ideas from some Israeli officials. Meanwhile, Egypt’s foreign minister echoed concerns that such a transfer of Palestinians could worsen regional conflicts.
Despite the challenges, Trump appears to have some leverage over Jordan, a critical ally of the U.S. that faces significant financial strains and relies heavily on foreign assistance. The United States has historically been the largest provider of aid to Jordan, allocating over $1.6 billion through the State Department in 2023 for various support measures, including security forces and budget support.
In exchange, Jordan plays a crucial role as a regional partner in U.S. efforts to maintain stability, hosting approximately 3,000 U.S. troops. However, recent actions by Secretary of State Marco Rubio have cast doubt on the flow of aid; Rubio excluded security assistance for Israel and Egypt but not for Jordan, following Trump’s orders regarding a freeze on foreign assistance during his first day in office.
In the United States, even some of Trump’s loyal supporters are struggling to understand his proposals. Senator Lindsey Graham, when interviewed on CNN’s “State of the Union,” expressed uncertainty regarding Trump’s comments about “cleaning out” Gaza and labeled his suggestion as impractical. He stressed the need to discuss the situation with Middle Eastern leaders, including the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and representatives from the UAE, to formulate a plan for the Palestinian populace.
Trump’s unwavering support for Israel has also led to his announcement to dispatch a supply of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, a move that contrasts with former President Joe Biden’s decision to impose a hold on such supplies due to humanitarian concerns for Gaza’s civilians.
Both Egypt and Jordan, after establishing peace with Israel, advocate for the formation of a Palestinian state encompassing the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem—territories captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East War. The permanent displacement of Gaza’s residents, they fear, could obliterate any hopes of that becoming a reality.
Trump justified the call for an extensive population shift by characterizing Gaza as “literally a demolition site right now,” expressing a desire to collaborate with Arab nations to construct housing in other regions, ensuring displaced individuals could “live in peace for a change.”
