Arab countries reject Trump's idea to relocate Palestinians from Gaza Strip
Palestinians fear they won't be able to return to their settlements in the region (photo: Getty Images)
Several Arab countries, as well as the Arab League, did not support US President Donald Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt and Jordan. Their leaders view this as a potential threat of a new war between Israel and Hamas, reports Bloomberg.
It is noted that on Saturday, February 1, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and the Palestinian Authority joined the positions of Jordan and Egypt.
Diplomats from Arab countries held a meeting in Cairo and issued a detailed statement. In it, Trump's idea is described as a threat to regional stability and a risk of escalating the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
The joint statement also rejects any attempts to divide the Gaza Strip. Instead, it supports working to ensure that the Palestinian Authority can fulfill its duties in Gaza, as well as in the West Bank, where it has partial control, and in East Jerusalem, where it currently has no control.
On Saturday, Trump had a phone conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, but it did not include any specific mention of the refugee situation.
Meanwhile, Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing an unnamed source, noted that the leaders discussed the possibility of relocating Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt for the duration of reconstruction.
Donald Trump's plan and Israel's position
Recently, US President Donald Trump proposed the idea of temporarily relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt or Jordan. The White House leader believes that this would allow people to live without chaos, revolutions, and violence, which are so prevalent.
However, Palestinians oppose this plan and fear that if they leave temporarily, Israel will not allow them to return.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have repeatedly opposed any involvement of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. They argue that this would mean Israel could not de-radicalize the coastal enclave and would not be able to prevent future attacks.
Some members of Netanyahu's ruling coalition support the idea of relocating Gaza's residents to other countries, claiming it should be voluntary immigration. They also support the construction of Jewish settlements in the enclave, which includes about 40 kilometers of land along the Mediterranean Sea.
The Israeli government has not yet officially responded to President Trump's recent comments. It is expected that Netanyahu will meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, February 4.
On January 26, Trump discussed the plan with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah, expressing confidence that the leaders would agree to the plan.
Israel and Hamas are currently in a six-week ceasefire phase, as outlined in a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement reached on January 16.
Since January 27, Israel has allowed civilians to return to northern Gaza.
