Aboard Air Force One (Agencies): President Donald Trump announced plans on Saturday to encourage Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations to accept more Palestinian refugees from Gaza. Trump suggested relocating a significant portion of the population to create what he termed a “clean slate” in the war-torn region.
During a press conference aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed he had spoken with King Abdullah II of Jordan and planned to discuss the matter with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Trump stated, “I’d like Egypt to take people. You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say, ‘You know, it’s over.’”
Trump praised Jordan for its previous acceptance of Palestinian refugees, urging the kingdom to take on more while describing Gaza as “a demolition site” after prolonged conflict. He suggested the relocation could be “temporary or long term,” adding, “I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing in a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change.”
In a related move, Trump announced he had lifted the Biden administration’s hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. The bombs, previously withheld to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, were released for delivery. “We released them today,” Trump said. “They’ve been waiting for them for a long time.”
Trump emphasized his pro-Israel stance, calling the region’s long history of conflict “a real mess” that requires bold solutions. However, the proposal to relocate a large segment of Gaza’s population could spark significant backlash, given Palestinians’ deep ties to their homeland.
There has been no immediate response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office regarding Trump’s comments.