
U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Jordan and Egypt to accept more Palestinians fleeing Gaza, where Israeli military operations have left tens of thousands dead and sparked a devastating humanitarian crisis.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump confirmed he had discussed the matter with Jordan’s King Abdullah and planned to raise it with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday. “I said to him [King Abdullah], I’d love you to take on more because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess—a real mess,” Trump remarked.
The Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians before the recent escalation, has seen widespread destruction. Describing Gaza as a “demolition site,” Trump proposed relocating displaced Palestinians to new housing built in cooperation with Arab countries. “It’s almost entirely demolished, and people are dying there. We need to work with Arab nations to create a safer, more peaceful environment for them elsewhere,” he added.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis follows a brutal escalation that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 people and capturing approximately 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 47,000 deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry, with widespread destruction of infrastructure and homes.
Washington has faced mounting criticism for its steadfast support of Israel during the conflict, despite opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians. Rights groups and aid organizations have repeatedly condemned the humanitarian toll and warned of a worsening hunger crisis in Gaza.
Trump acknowledged that his proposal for Jordan and Egypt to host more Palestinians could be temporary or permanent but emphasized the urgency of addressing the crisis. “You’re talking about 1.5 million people. We just clean out that whole thing,” he said, suggesting a long-term resettlement plan might bring stability to the region.
The recent ceasefire, brokered last week, has seen limited progress, including prisoner exchanges between Hamas and Israel. However, the devastation in Gaza remains a stark reminder of the enduring human cost of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.