Arab ministers reject Trump's call to displace Palestinians from Gaza
The ministers also warned that any attempt to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza would escalate tensions in the region and further undermine efforts to achieve lasting peace.
Foreign ministers from five Arab countries have rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza following a proposal by former US President Donald Trump.
The statement, released on Saturday, reaffirmed their opposition to any attempts to remove Palestinians from their land and warned of the consequences for regional stability.
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The statement was made after a high-level meeting that included representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League.
The officials expressed concern over Trump's recent remarks, in which he suggested that Egypt and Jordan should absorb Palestinians from Gaza, which has been heavily damaged after 15 months of Israeli bombardment.
"We affirm our rejection of [any attempts] to compromise Palestinians' unalienable rights, whether through settlement activities, evictions, annexation of land, or vacating the land from its owners ... in any form or under any circumstances or justifications," read part of their statement.
Egypt and Jordan, both key US allies, have firmly rejected Trump's proposal. Jordan, which already hosts several million Palestinians, has previously warned against any forced displacement of Palestinians, stating that such actions would destabilise the region.
Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, has also refused to accept any mass displacement of Palestinians into its territory.
On Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi publicly dismissed Trump's proposal, warning that such a move would provoke strong opposition from the Egyptian people.
"Displacement of the Palestinian people from their land is an injustice that we cannot take part in," he said.
He added that Egyptians would take to the streets in protest if any attempt were made to push Palestinians into Egypt.
Despite these objections, Trump reiterated his stance on Thursday, suggesting that Egypt and Jordan should comply due to the military and financial assistance they receive from the US. "We do a lot for them, and they are going to do it," he said.
International Reactions
Analysts and human rights organisations have criticised Trump's remarks, describing them as a call for ethnic cleansing.
Yousef Munayyer, director of the Palestine/Israel programme at the Arab Center Washington DC, said the former president's comments should be condemned.
"Trump says all kinds of things," he said. "Sometimes, they're things that he means. Sometimes, they're things that he doesn't mean. Sometimes, they're things that he heard in a conversation that he had five minutes ago. Sometimes, they're things that he thinks he heard but misunderstood."
The situation in Gaza remains critical, with most of its 2.3 million residents displaced and infrastructure severely damaged. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to widespread destruction, leaving the region in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
The foreign ministers emphasised their commitment to working toward a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution and called for international efforts to rebuild Gaza.
The ministers welcomed Egypt's proposal to host an international conference with the United Nations to focus on reconstruction and humanitarian aid. They also reiterated their support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which they described as playing an "indispensable and irreplaceable role" in assisting Palestinians.
The Arab League has called for continued diplomatic efforts to prevent any forced displacement of Palestinians and to push for a political solution that ensures their right to remain on their land.
The ministers also warned that any attempt to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza would escalate tensions in the region and further undermine efforts to achieve lasting peace.
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