Summary
- Trump spoke with Jordan’s king on Saturday
- Will speak with Egypt’s leader on Sunday
- Trump describes Gaza as a “demolition site”
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Jan 25 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Jordan and Egypt should take in more Palestinians from Gaza, where Israel’s military operations have created a severe humanitarian crisis, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.
When asked whether this proposal was meant to be a temporary or long-term solution, Trump responded, “Could be either.”
Last year, Washington had voiced opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians. For months, rights groups and humanitarian organizations have expressed concerns about the dire situation in Gaza, where the war has displaced nearly the entire population and triggered a widespread hunger crisis.
Washington has faced criticism for its continued support of Israel, but it has defended its stance, stating that backing Israel is essential to help the country defend itself against Iran-backed militant groups like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen.
During a call with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Saturday, President Trump expressed his desire for Jordan to take in more Palestinians, saying, “I said to him I’d love you to take on more because I’m looking at the whole Gaza strip right now and it’s a mess, it’s a real mess. I’d like him to take people.” Trump, who took office on January 20, made these remarks while discussing the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
“I’d like Egypt to take people,” Trump told reporters, adding that he would speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday.
“You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” Trump said.
Before the Israel-Gaza war began, the population of the Palestinian enclave was approximately 2.3 million.
GAZA IS A ‘DEMOLITION SITE’
“It’s literally a demolition site—almost everything is destroyed, and people are dying there. So I’d rather work with some of the Arab nations to build housing in a different location, where they might actually be able to live in peace for a change,” Trump said.
The latest wave of violence in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza, which has resulted in more than 47,000 deaths, according to the Gaza health ministry. This has led to accusations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies.
A ceasefire went into effect a week ago, resulting in the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.