PHOTO: Jordanian Royal Court.
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would adopt a firm stance on Gaza, the Palestinian enclave where a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in place. Trump has previously proposed a US takeover of Gaza, a move that has drawn widespread criticism across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Arab countries are formulating a comprehensive plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents while ensuring security and governance, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi revealed on Friday. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Safadi emphasised that Jordan, already hosting a significant refugee population, could not accept more Palestinians.
“Just to answer you unequivocally, 35% of our population are refugees. We cannot afford any more. We cannot have Palestinians coming to Jordan. They don’t want to come to Jordan, and we don’t want them to come to Jordan,” Safadi said.
The Arab initiative comes in response to Trump’s controversial proposal earlier this month to “clean out” Palestinians from Gaza and resettle them in Jordan and Egypt.
The plan was swiftly rejected by both Cairo and Amman, with regional leaders warning it would destabilise the Middle East.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II reiterated his country’s opposition during a visit to Washington on 11 February, where he presented the Arab alternative to Trump.
According to two European diplomatic sources familiar with the discussions, King Abdullah told Trump that the Arab plan would be “cheaper and faster” than the US proposal. Reports suggest Trump appeared receptive to the idea.
Safadi outlined the Arab proposal: “We are working on an Arab plan that will show we can rebuild Gaza without displacing its people and that we can guarantee security and governance.”
He also urged Israel to consider the region’s long-term future, adding, “Israelis also have to think long-term. For it to live in peace and security, its neighbours need to live in peace and security.”
Saudi Arabia is reportedly leading urgent efforts among Arab nations to develop a viable plan for Gaza’s future, countering Trump’s vision of a Middle East Riviera devoid of Palestinian inhabitants, according to 10 sources who spoke to Reuters.
Safadi also warned of escalating tensions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, describing it as a “powder keg that could explode.”
Israel, viewing the West Bank as part of a multi-front conflict against Iranian-backed groups, has launched military operations following the Gaza ceasefire. The campaign has led to widespread destruction and the displacement of thousands of Palestinians.
The Arab proposal aims to address both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term stability in Gaza, offering an alternative to Trump’s contentious resettlement plan.
As regional tensions simmer, the international community watches closely to see how the competing visions for Gaza’s future will unfold.
-BTS Media
