Several Arab nations have rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Gazans to neighboring countries.
A coalition of Arab foreign ministers from Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt issued a statement on Saturday, February 1, firmly opposing any efforts to expel or resettle Palestinians outside Gaza. While expressing willingness to work with Trump on a two-state solution, they rejected his suggestion to relocate Palestinians, emphasizing their commitment to rebuilding Gaza and ensuring the Palestinian population remains in their homeland.
The ministers condemned actions that threaten Palestinian rights, including settlement expansion, forced evictions, home demolitions, land annexation, and coerced migration. Their statement followed a meeting in Cairo, where they reinforced their stance against displacement.
Trump had previously mentioned discussing with Jordan’s king the possibility of relocating over a million Gazans to other parts of the Middle East, calling Gaza a “demolition site” and suggesting that Arab nations could help build housing elsewhere for Palestinians to live “in peace for a change.”
The Arab ministers also addressed Gaza’s reconstruction, calling for a full Israeli withdrawal from the territory and rejecting any plans to partition it. They highlighted the critical role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in supporting Palestinians, following Israel’s recent ban on the agency.
Their statement coincided with an ongoing fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, as the region assesses the aftermath of a prolonged 15-month conflict. The ministers acknowledged the role of the U.S. in brokering agreements, with both Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden seeking credit for diplomatic efforts.