Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated his proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to safer regions, such as Egypt or Jordan, as a long-term solution to the ongoing conflict. He also announced plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington in the near future.
Speaking about his controversial idea, Trump suggested that moving Palestinians to more stable areas could offer them a life free from violence and turmoil. “You know, when you look at the Gaza Strip, it’s been hell for so many years… there’s always been violence associated with it. Netanyahu is coming here to meet with me,” Trump stated.
This proposal follows his remarks on Saturday, where he floated the idea of “cleaning out Gaza” after 15 months of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has devastated the Palestinian territory. Trump expressed optimism about enlisting regional support for the plan, despite historical opposition from key stakeholders.
In recent days, Trump has reportedly engaged in discussions with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, both of whom have consistently opposed the displacement of Palestinians. Addressing their potential cooperation, Trump remarked, “I wish he [King Abdullah II] would take some. We helped them a lot, and I’m sure he’d help us. As they say, it’s a rough neighborhood, but I think he would do it, and I think the king of Jordan would do it too.”
The Gaza conflict has led to the displacement of nearly all 2.4 million residents of the territory, following the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. A ceasefire agreement, currently in effect, is set to last six weeks, facilitating the release of 33 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
As part of the ongoing negotiations, the terms of a second phase will be addressed, aiming to secure the release of remaining hostages and bring the war to a conclusive end. The final phase is expected to focus on Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of the bodies of hostages who died in captivity.
While the Biden administration had outlined detailed post-war plans for Gaza, Trump has yet to address those proposals. His renewed comments signal a potential shift in approach as talks with regional leaders and Netanyahu take shape.
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