Egyptian, Jordanian, and Palestinian rejection of Trump’s proposal to expel Gaza’s population

Egypt, Jordan, and Palestinian factions have strongly rejected statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he expressed a desire to see Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab countries accept more Palestinian refugees from Gaza and remove enough of the population to « cleanse » the region.

In a statement, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Egypt rejects any violation of Palestinian rights, whether through settlement, land annexation, displacement of its people, or promoting the relocation of Palestinians from their land, whether temporarily or long-term. This threatens stability, extends the conflict in the region, and undermines the chances of peace and coexistence among its peoples.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also called on the international community to work toward the actual implementation of the two-state solution, including the establishment of a Palestinian state on all of its national territory, and within the framework of the unity of Gaza and the West Bank (occupied), including East Jerusalem, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.

For his part, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi reaffirmed his country’s position in rejecting any attempt to displace Palestinians.

In a press conference, Safadi stressed that the two-state solution is the way to achieve peace in the region, and that Jordan would not accept any solution to the Palestinian issue at the expense of Jordan.

Palestinian rejection

In a previous statement, Hamas confirmed that the Palestinian people, who have resisted the worst genocidal actions and refused to surrender to displacement, categorically reject any plans to expel and displace them.

Hamas called on the U.S. administration to stop what it described as proposals that align with Israeli plans and clash with Palestinian rights.

The Palestinian presidency also expressed, in a statement, its rejection of plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza, considering it a « breach of red lines. »

Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad movement strongly condemned U.S. President Trump’s statements about relocating Gaza’s inhabitants outside their land.

In a statement, the movement said that « Trump’s statements align with the worst of the extreme Zionist right agenda and are a continuation of the denial of the existence of the Palestinian people. »

The government media office in Gaza also condemned the statements circulating regarding the relocation of Gaza citizens to neighboring countries, saying that they reflect alignment with the occupying forces’ declared efforts for displacement.

It affirmed that this idea would remain just an illusion in the minds of those proposing it, and would end like all previous displacement schemes.

Israeli welcome

On the other hand, Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that « the idea of helping Gaza residents find other places to start a new life is a great idea. »

He added that he would work closely with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to ensure that a practical plan is implemented as soon as possible.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who resigned, also welcomed President Trump’s initiative to relocate Gaza’s population to Jordan and Egypt.

He said that one of his demands from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to encourage voluntary emigration for Palestinians.

On January 19, 2025, a ceasefire agreement and a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel went into effect, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

The agreement consists of three phases, each lasting 42 days, during which negotiations will be held to begin the second and third phases under the mediation of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

With U.S. support, Israel carried out, between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, a genocide in Gaza, resulting in more than 158,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, most of whom were children and women, and leaving more than 14,000 missing.