Trump faces showdown with Jordan over Gaza plan

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah at the White House today, their first meeting since Trump proposed relocating residents of the Gaza Strip to Jordan. King Abdullah is expected to express strong opposition to Trump's proposal during the meeting, underscoring the kingdom's firm stance on the issue.

Jordan, as a key U.S. ally, has carefully maintained its military and diplomatic ties, while also accommodating domestic support for Palestinians. The Gaza war has already placed considerable pressure on Jordan, and Trump's plans for Gaza's future peace undoubtedly push that pressure to a critical point, impacting regional stability.

Trump has not only requested that residents of the Gaza Strip be relocated to Jordan and Egypt, but also stated in an interview with Fox News that these individuals would have no right to return home. This idea, if implemented, would violate international law. He even stated on Monday that he might withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they did not accept Palestinian refugees, creating further diplomatic tensions.

Opposition to relocating Gazans to Jordan also comes from those who have already moved there. In the Gaza refugee camp near the northern Jordanian town of Jerash, approximately 45,000 people reside, just one of Jordan's many Palestinian refugee camps. Simple tin roofs hang over narrow shop entrances, and children ride donkeys through the market stalls, highlighting the camp's challenging conditions.

Every family here has inextricable ties to Gaza, their ancestors hailing from Jabalia, Rafah, and Beit Hanoun. Most left their homes after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, seeking temporary refuge, but generations have passed, and they remain stranded. "Donald Trump is an arrogant narcissist," 60-year-old Maher Azaz told reporters. "He has a medieval mindset, a businessman's mindset," reflecting the deep-seated resentment towards the proposal.

Maher left Jabalia as a toddler. Some of his family members are still there, now searching through the rubble for the bodies of 18 missing relatives. Despite the immense destruction in Gaza, Mr. Azaz stated that Gazans today have learned from the lessons of previous generations, with most "preferring to jump into the sea rather than leave," indicating their resolve to remain in their homeland.

Those who once thought leaving home was only for temporary refuge now believe that doing so is helping Israeli far-right nationalists seize Palestinian land. "We Gazans have already experienced this," said Youssef, who was born in the refugee camp. "Back then, they told us it was only temporary, and we would return to our homes. The right of return is a red line." Another man told reporters, "When our ancestors left, they didn't have the weapons that Hamas has now to fight. Now the younger generation fully understands what happened to our ancestors, and this will never happen again. Now there is resistance," underscoring the shift in perspective and determination.

Palestinians are not the only people seeking refuge in Jordan, a relatively stable "small power" amidst the many conflicts in the Middle East. Iraqis fled the war and came here in the early 2000s. A decade later, Syrians also flooded into Jordan, prompting the Jordanian king to warn that his country was at a "boiling point." Many native Jordanians blame high unemployment and poverty on the waves of refugees, exacerbating existing socio-economic challenges.

While waiting for work outside a mosque in downtown Amman, reporters met Imad Abdullah and his friend Hassan, both day laborers who have been out of work for months. "The situation in Jordan used to be good, but when the war in Iraq happened, it got worse, and when the war in Syria happened, it got worse, and now the war in Gaza is happening, it's getting worse," Hassan said. "Any war that happens near us makes our situation worse because we are a country that helps and welcomes people," highlighting the strain on Jordan's resources and infrastructure.

Imad's statement was more blunt, as he worried about how to feed his four children. "Foreigners came and stole our jobs," he told reporters. "Now I haven't worked for four months. I have no money, no food. If Gazans come, we will die," reflecting the desperation and anxieties of many Jordanians struggling to make ends meet.

But Jordan also faces pressure from its main military ally. Trump has already suspended more than $1.5 billion in annual aid to Jordan. Many are bracing for an increasingly heated confrontation between the new U.S. president and Jordanian political leaders, with Jordan's leadership pushing back against the proposed policies.

Former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Anani stated that the message King Abdullah will convey to Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday will be clear: "We consider any attempt by Israel or anyone else to drive people out of their homes in Gaza and the West Bank to be a criminal act. But any attempt to push these people into Jordan will be tantamount to a declaration of war," emphasizing the gravity of the situation and Jordan's unwavering stance.

Even if Gazans were willing to relocate voluntarily on a temporary basis as part of a broader Middle East plan, trust simply does not exist. "There is no trust," he said. "As long as Netanyahu is involved, he and his government, there is no trust in any promise made to anyone. Period," reflecting the deep skepticism towards the current Israeli government and its intentions.

Trump's determination to push his Gaza vision may ultimately force a key U.S. ally to make critical choices. Last Friday, thousands protested Trump's proposal here. Jordan, home to U.S. military bases and millions of refugees, has security cooperation that is crucial for Israel, which is concerned about smuggling routes into the occupied West Bank, highlighting the strategic importance of Jordan's stability.

Any threat to Jordan's stability implies a threat to its allies. If stability is Jordan's superpower, then the threat of instability is its greatest weapon and best defense, emphasizing the delicate balance Jordan must maintain in the face of external pressures.