Jordan's King rejects Trump proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza

King Abdullah of Jordan has firmly rejected President Donald Trump's controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan. This decision came after a meeting between the two leaders at the White House. Following their discussion, King Abdullah took to social media platform X to express that Jordan remains 'steadfast' in its opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from both Gaza and the West Bank. He emphasized that this stance reflects a unified position among Arab nations. This meeting marked the first time the two leaders had spoken since Trump unveiled his plan to transfer the population of Gaza, which numbers around two million Palestinians, to various countries in the region, including Jordan. Earlier in the week, Trump had suggested that he might cut off financial aid to Jordan and Egypt unless they agreed to accept these Palestinians. It is important to note that Jordan is already home to millions of Palestinians. While King Abdullah did offer to accept up to 2,000 Palestinian children from Gaza who are in need of medical assistance, he made it clear that the priority should be on rebuilding Gaza and addressing the humanitarian crisis there, rather than relocating its residents. During the press conference, Trump reiterated his stance on the proposal, which has faced widespread condemnation globally since its announcement. He stated, 'We’re going to take it. We’re going to hold it. We’re going to cherish it,' referring to Gaza. Trump also claimed that a US takeover of the devastated territory would create numerous job opportunities in the region, stating, 'I think it could be a diamond. ' He expressed confidence that the US should not have to resort to threats to persuade other countries to participate in this plan. As Trump spoke, King Abdullah remained silent beside him, listening to the president's remarks about a proposal that could potentially violate international law, which prohibits the forced relocation of populations. The United Nations has issued warnings that any forced displacement of civilians from occupied territories is strictly forbidden and could be considered a form of ethnic cleansing. When asked about this UN warning, Trump appeared to sidestep the question, saying, 'We’re moving them to a beautiful location where they can have new homes, where they can live safely. ' Jordan already hosts millions of individuals who are descendants of Palestinian refugees who were displaced from their homes in 1948 when the state of Israel was established, as well as those whose families have lived in Jordan for generations. Trump expressed his belief that there would be land available in both Jordan and Egypt for the relocated Palestinians, stating, 'I believe we’ll have a parcel of land in Jordan. I believe we’ll have a parcel of land in Egypt. ' He suggested that once discussions are concluded, they would find a suitable place where the Palestinians could live happily and safely. King Abdullah mentioned during the meeting that the issue would be further discussed and that both parties should wait for Egypt to present its ideas. The proposal involving Egypt is thought to be a plan for the future governance of Gaza, supported by other Arab nations as a counter to Trump's controversial plan. Trump has consistently reiterated his commitment to acquiring and managing Gaza, stating in a recent interview that the two million residents of Gaza would be resettled and would not have the right to return. He remarked, 'They wouldn’t, because they have much better housing. ' He envisions creating a permanent settlement for them.