Donald Trump says Jordan, Egypt should take in Palestinians from Gaza, faces pushback

United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Jordan and Egypt should take in Palestinians from Gaza.

The proposal came amid the ceasefire in Gaza.

Asked if Jordan, which borders Israel and the Palestinian territory of West Bank, and Egypt, which shares a boundary with Gaza, taking in Palestinians was a temporary or long-term solution, the US president said: “Could be either.”

Trump had first floated the proposal on Saturday, saying that he would urge the leaders of Jordan and Egypt to accept Palestinians from Gaza, so that “we just clean out that whole thing”, the Associated Press reported.

“It’s literally a demolition site right now,” Trump said. “I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations, and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed Trump’s suggestion, calling it “an excellent idea”. Smotrich has previously proposed the return of Israeli settlements in Gaza, which has been rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Reuters reported.

The suggestion was rejected by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the besieged territory, as well as by Jordan and Egypt, Reuters reported.

Hamas official Basem Naim reiterated concerns that the Palestinians were being permanently driven out of their homes in Gaza.

Palestinians “will not accept any offers or solutions, even…

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