In a controversial move, US President Donald Trump proposed relocating over 1 million Palestinians from the war-torn Gaza Strip to neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt. The suggestion comes as the Israel-Hamas war has left Gaza in ruins, with the majority of its infrastructure destroyed.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed that he had discussed the idea with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, a key US ally, during a recent phone call. He stated:
“I said to him that I’d love you to take on more because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess, it’s a real mess.”
Trump also mentioned plans to speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi regarding a similar arrangement, adding:
“You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing… Almost everything’s demolished, and people are dying there.”
Jordan, which already hosts over 2.39 million registered Palestinian refugees, made no reference to relocation in its official statement about the call, according to the Petra news agency.
The Situation in Gaza
The UN reports that Israeli airstrikes have destroyed or severely damaged 60% of Gaza’s infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and 92% of homes. Around 90% of Gazans have been displaced, with many forced to move multiple times.
Trump’s remarks have sparked debate over the feasibility and humanitarian implications of relocating an entire population, as the region grapples with longstanding tensions and conflicts.