Key Points:
- Trump’s Gaza proposal sparked global condemnation.
- Arab nations strongly rejected Trump’s plan.
- Mahmud Abbas to attend the Riyadh summit.
Saudi Arabia is considering alternatives to President Trump’s Gaza plan, which aimed to displace Palestinian inhabitants from Gaza and resettle many of them in Jordan and Egypt. This proposal was met with rejection by Egypt and Jordan, and seen by many in the region as destabilizing.
A meeting of Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE, is scheduled for this month in Riyadh to discuss potential alternative plans. These discussions may include ideas such as a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and a plan to sideline Hamas.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia will host a summit with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE on February 20, ahead of an Arab League meeting on the issue in Cairo.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, another source informed AFP that Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas would also be attending the event.
Trump’s proposal sparked widespread global condemnation, suggesting that the United States should “take over” the Gaza Strip and relocate over two million Palestinians to countries like Egypt or Jordan, citing them as potential destinations. This proposal was made during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington.
In response, Arab countries have united in a rare display of solidarity, expressing outrage at the idea of mass displacement for the Palestinians. For many Palestinians, any forced relocation recalls the “Nakba” or catastrophe — the mass displacement of their ancestors during the creation of Israel in 1948.
Trump has also hinted at cutting off aid to long-standing allies, including Jordan and Egypt, should they refuse to accept his plan. Jordan, which already hosts over two million Palestinian refugees, has a population of 11 million, with more than half of it of Palestinian origin.
In contrast, Egypt has put forward its own proposal for the reconstruction of Gaza, one that would allow Palestinians to remain within the territory.
Saudi Arabia’s efforts to explore alternatives to President Trump’s Gaza proposal highlight the growing resistance from Arab nations to the notion of forcibly displacing Palestinians from Gaza. The global outcry and the rejection by key Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan, demonstrate a unified stance against the plan. With Saudi Arabia spearheading discussions for potential alternative solutions, including a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and sidelining Hamas, this summit could pave the way for a new approach to resolving the Gaza conflict. The upcoming meeting in Riyadh, which will include the Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, underscores the significance of these discussions, as they aim to find a solution that respects Palestinian rights and regional stability.