Arab League Rejects Trump’s Gaza Relocation Plan “`
In a joint statement released Saturday following a meeting in Cairo, several Arab nations rejected President Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan. The statement, signed by foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, along with the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Arab League, reaffirmed unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to remain on their land, as guaranteed by international law.
The statement explicitly condemned any actions violating these rights, including settlement activities, home demolitions, land annexation, and displacement. It explicitly rejected any plan to transfer or forcibly remove Palestinians, citing the destabilizing effect on the region and its harm to peace prospects.
The statement welcomed the recent Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. It also pledged continued cooperation with the Trump administration to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution.
President Trump, in an Oval Office comment on Friday, expressed confidence that Egypt and Jordan would accept Palestinians from Gaza, despite their stated opposition.
The statement follows Trump’s earlier proposal, made last month, to relocate approximately 1.5 million Gazans to Egypt and Jordan, a suggestion made in the context of the extensive destruction in Gaza following the recent conflict. Trump described Gaza as a “demolition site” and suggested relocation as a means to enable Palestinians to live peacefully.
Egyptian President El-Sisi previously stated his firm rejection of the proposal, emphasizing the two-state solution as the only viable path forward. Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also voiced unwavering opposition. While a call between Presidents Trump and El-Sisi occurred on Saturday, the Egyptian government readout made no mention of the relocation plan, focusing instead on the ceasefire and humanitarian aid. El-Sisi reiterated his commitment to a lasting Middle East peace, expressing confidence in President Trump’s ability to broker a lasting peace agreement.
Jordan hosts over 2 million Palestinians, and Egypt has expressed security concerns about relocating a large Palestinian population to its Sinai Peninsula. Both countries, despite their peace treaties with Israel, support the establishment of a Palestinian state encompassing the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem—territories captured by Israel in 1967. The Israeli government recently ordered the UNRWA to cease operations in the country, citing allegations of Hamas involvement.