Former U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial post-war plan for Gaza, suggesting that neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt could house over a million displaced Palestinians.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed that he had discussed the idea with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, proposing that Jordan take in more Palestinian refugees.
“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 said, emphasizing the devastation in the region.
He also mentioned his intention to speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi about the matter.
Trump’s plan involves relocating up to 1.5 million Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries, a suggestion that could change the region’s demographics and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
“Almost everything’s demolished, and people are dying there, so I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing in a different location where I think they could maybe live in peace for a change,” Trump added.
The comments are seen as a significant departure from traditional U.S. foreign policy, which has long supported a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Trump’s proposal has already sparked criticism from various quarters, with Palestinian leaders rejecting the idea outright.
READ ALSO: 13-Year-Old Girl Abducted and Assaulted in Hackney: Police Urge Public’s Help
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, an independent Palestinian politician, condemned the remarks, calling them part of a “conspiracy of ethnic cleansing” aimed at displacing Palestinians from their homeland.
The proposal also faces resistance from neighboring countries, with both Egyptian President el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah calling the relocation of more Palestinians a “red line.”
The situation in Gaza has worsened over the past year, with Israeli airstrikes leaving much of the area in ruins and forcing nearly 90% of Gazans to flee their homes.
