Jordanians reject Trump's plan to 'take over' Gaza and expel Palestinians

Jordanian citizens strongly oppose former U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. This comes after Trump announced that his administration would "take over" the Gaza Strip, relocate its residents elsewhere, and transform the area into the "Middle East's Riviera," a plan that has sparked widespread concern and strong condemnation within Jordan.

In startling remarks made alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated, "We'll take that land, and we're going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it'll be something that the whole Middle East can be proud of." He further added, "If we can find the right land, some land, and build them [Palestinians in Gaza] some really nice locations… I think that’d be so much better than staying where they are."

Trump further expressed his belief that U.S. allies Jordan and Egypt would "open up" and "give us the land we need to do it." However, Jordan has voiced its strong opposition to this idea. Former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Mamdouh al-Abadi described Trump's remarks as "a declaration of war against the Arab people" and urged Jordanian authorities to reinstate mandatory military service, amidst growing fears that the two countries could go to war over the issue.

Abadi stated in an interview with Middle East Eye: "When you try to move more than 2.5 million Palestinians to an unknown place in order to build a Riviera (luxury resort) on their land in Gaza, this is colonialism like never before." Senator Omar Ayasrah also stated: "Jordan is not a banana republic that Trump can impose the acceptance of millions of refugees on." Jordan is reportedly prepared to declare war on Israel in the event of Palestinians being forcibly displaced into its territory.

Despite Jordan's close military alliance with the United States and its reliance on U.S. economic aid, Jordanian officials have made it clear that Jordan will not hesitate to forgo aid if it is tied to the issue of Palestinian displacement. King Abdullah II of Jordan plans to reiterate to Trump during his upcoming White House visit that Jordan and Egypt reject any plan to displace Palestinians, as it would constitute political suicide for Jordan. Saudi Arabia has also stated its rejection of any attempts to drive Palestinians from their homes and that it will not establish relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is established. Arab nations generally believe that such a plan would further escalate conflict in the Middle East and undermine opportunities for peaceful coexistence.