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Trump Presses Jordan and Egypt to Accept Gazans, Proposes to 'Just Clean Out' Territory

Jan 26, 2025, 05:55 AM

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he is pressing Jordan and Egypt to accept more Palestinians from Gaza, where Israel's military operations have caused widespread destruction. Trump stated that he had spoken with Jordan's King Abdullah II about the possibility of transferring Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries, saying, "You're talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing." He suggested that moving people out of the war-torn area could create a "clean slate." Trump indicated that he plans to discuss the issue with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, expressing a desire for Egypt to also accept people from Gaza. He described Gaza as "literally a demolition site," suggesting that neighboring Arab nations could provide housing for displaced Palestinians, either temporarily or in the long term. Israeli officials, including former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, welcomed Trump's proposal. Ben-Gvir stated, "I congratulate President Trump on his initiative to transfer residents from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt." He urged the Israeli government to adopt similar measures to encourage voluntary immigration, saying, "When the president of the biggest power in the world raises the idea of voluntary immigration, it is advisable that our government encourage and implement it." The Gaza Strip has been severely affected by ongoing conflicts, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Trump's remarks come amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, as he suggests that neighboring Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they accept from Gaza.