DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — King Abdullah II of Jordan has firmly rejected any proposal for the mass displacement of Palestinians following his recent talks with President Donald Trump, who has suggested relocating the approximately 2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip amidst the ongoing conflict in the region.
Trump has proposed that these displaced individuals could find refuge in neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt, both of which have expressed strong opposition to such plans. The Palestinian people have also condemned Trump’s initiative, viewing it as an attempt to displace them from their homeland. Additionally, countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar have voiced their disapproval of this suggestion.
While Israeli officials have shown support for Trump’s proposal, organizations such as Human Rights Watch have criticized it, describing it as a form of “ethnic cleansing,” which involves the forced migration of civilians based on their national identity. During the meeting with Trump, King Abdullah proposed accepting up to 2,000 Gaza children needing medical care, but later reiterated on social media Jordan’s strong stance against the displacement of Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank, emphasizing a stance shared by the Arab world.
The reluctance of Jordan and Egypt to accept a significant influx of Palestinian refugees can be traced back through history. During the 1948 conflict that led to the establishment of Israel, an estimated 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes, an event known to Palestinians as the Nakba, meaning “catastrophe.”
Israel has historically denied their right to return, citing demographic concerns. Today, the number of Palestinian refugees and their descendants exceeds 6 million, with substantial populations in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The 1967 Six-Day War saw an additional 300,000 Palestinians flee, primarily to Jordan, resulting in over 2 million registered refugees, many of whom have achieved Jordanian citizenship.
The ongoing crisis surrounding Palestinian refugees remains a pivotal component of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, complicating past peace negotiations. Palestinians maintain their claim to a right of return, while Israel insists that these individuals should integrate into Arab nations nearby. The current conflict in Gaza has led many to compare their suffering to a second Nakba, with widespread destruction forcing roughly 90% of the population from their homes. This has ignited fears that if significant numbers depart, they may not be able to return.
The steadfastness displayed by Palestinians in the face of adversity is deeply ingrained in their culture, as exemplified by the thousands who returned to heavily bombed areas in Gaza last month despite the destruction.
Egypt and Jordan have categorically rejected early proposals from Israeli officials to accept refugees from Gaza during the conflict. Although both nations have peace agreements with Israel, they advocate for the establishment of a Palestinian state in the occupied territories, fearing that permanently displacing Gaza’s population would jeopardize this goal.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has raised concerns about the security risks associated with relocating large numbers of Palestinians to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, which borders Gaza. The migration of militant groups, like Hamas, alongside refugees could potentially instigate future conflicts on Egyptian soil, posing a threat to the stability established by the historic Camp David peace treaty.
Historical precedents have shown the severe ramifications of such refugee movements, as illustrated by Lebanon’s civil war in the 1970s, sparked in part by the presence of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) along its southern border. Jordan faced a similar situation in 1970, leading to the expulsion of the PLO.
Some Israeli nationalists have put forth the idea of designating Jordan as a de facto Palestinian state, a notion fervently opposed by the Jordanian monarchy.
The potential for Trump to coerce Egypt and Jordan into accepting these refugees remains uncertain and hinges on the severity of his intentions. U.S. economic policies, such as tariffs or sanctions, could have detrimental effects on both countries, which receive substantial American aid annually.
During discussions, Trump mentioned he could consider withholding aid but refrained from issuing a direct threat, stating, “I don’t have to threaten that. I do believe we’re above that.” Allowing a substantial influx of refugees could also lead to instability in both nations. Currently, Egypt accommodates around 9 million migrants, including Sudanese refugees, while Jordan supports over 700,000 refugees from Syria, out of a population of less than 12 million.
Trump’s proposals regarding Gaza could further complicate efforts to achieve diplomatic normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, with the latter insisting that the establishment of a Palestinian state must precede any formal ties with Israel.