Key Takeaways:

• Arab nations strongly oppose President Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.
• A joint statement from key Arab nations emphasizes the need for stability and the maintenance of Palestinian rights.
• Leaders advocate for a two-state solution as the primary resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Powerful Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League, have issued a joint statement firmly rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. The statement follows a meeting in Cairo, where top diplomats voiced their unified stance against any plans to move Palestinians, whose historic homeland is in Gaza and the West Bank, particularly in light of Trump's earlier comments about “cleaning out” Gaza.

Trump's comments, made last month, suggested that Egypt and Jordan should accept Gaza’s largely homeless population as a response to the devastation caused by the ongoing conflict. He characterized the region as a “demolition site,” reflecting the significant destruction that resulted from Israel’s 15-month military operation against Hamas.

The Arab statement underscored that such measures would threaten regional stability, spread conflict, and undermine peace prospects. It stressed the necessity of protecting Palestinians' unalienable rights and cautioned against any forced displacement, likening these proposals to potential ethnic cleansing. As highlighted in numerous reports, including coverage from AP News and Time, these proposals have long faced opposition from both Palestinian groups and various international organizations.

During the Cairo meeting, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reiterated that Egypt would not tolerate any forced transfer of Palestinians, advocating instead for a two-state solution as a means to establish a Palestinian state based on recognized borders. Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi expressed a similar sentiment, emphasizing that his country’s opposition to the relocation proposal was "firm and unwavering."

The situation remains complex, with both Egypt and Jordan expressing concerns over the economic and political instability that such transfers could cause. With Jordan already home to over two million Palestinians, and Egypt fearing security implications from mass relocations to its Sinai Peninsula, Arab leaders are advocating for an international reconstruction plan to aid in rebuilding Gaza while ensuring Palestinians retain their rights and homeland.

As the region seeks pathways to peace, it becomes increasingly clear that the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, noted in the Reuters report, remains a cornerstone of any lasting resolution.