US President Donald Trump once said he wants to “clean out” Gaza, suggesting Egypt and Jordan should take in more Palestinians from the coastal enclave. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump mentioned a call he had with King Abdullah II of Jordan and plans to speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi later.
“I would like Egypt to take people,” Trump said, estimating that up to 1.5 million people could be moved. He singled out the specific case of Gaza as a “real mess” that needed resolution urgently.
He praised Jordan’s taking in of Palestinian refugees and called on the king to accept more. He called Gaza a “test site,” or more aptly put, an area rife with destitute living conditions and lost lives. He asked Arab nations to join in an effort to house the Palestinians in safer areas; a move he labeled temporary or permanent, whatever they prefer.
But Abdullah Al-Arian, associate professor at Georgetown University, counters that, from early on, the Israelis signaled their intentions to ethnically cleanse the Palestinian territories of their residents. He adds that up until now, the Arab leadership has declined to receive more refugees due to political considerations, above all Egypt:.
Al-Arian added that this plan would surely be refused by Palestinians, citing their painful history of displacement known as the “Nakba,” and advised nobody should pay serious attention to Trump’s remarks.
For his part, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for moving all residents out of Gaza, saying it was the chance for the territory to “start over.” He vowed to work with the government of Israel to provide an actual, workable mechanism for relocation.
Egypt has repeatedly warned of the dangers of forcibly displacing Palestinians, which could undermine its 1979 peace treaty with Israel. Jordan hosts close to 2.3 million registered Palestinian refugees already.
The conflict has caused devastating casualties, with over 47,000 reported deaths from the attack by the Israeli military, though many believe it could be higher. Most of Gaza lies in ruins from the heavy bombing, and it will take years for reconstruction.
The hold was also lifted on a sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel that the former president had placed on hold amid concerns over civilian casualties, Trump announced. “We released them today,” he said, defending the move by claiming the bombs had been paid for.
Historically, the United States has given Israel massive financial aid, amounting to $297 billion since 1946, and a lion’s share of that for military support. A ceasefire in Gaza has held for a week that saw the release of some Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
