Arab FMs reject displacing Palestinians 'under any circumstances'

In a unified stance, five Arab foreign ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE have firmly rejected any form of forced displacement of Palestinians.

Their position directly counters recent statements made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that Egypt and Jordan should accept displaced Palestinians from Gaza.

Trump's Controversial Claims

Political and Humanitarian Ramifications

Egypt, under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has historically had strained relations with Gaza, yet even he recognizes that facilitating another large-scale Palestinian displacement-akin to the 1948 Nakba (catastrophe)-would carry immense regional repercussions. Furthermore, Palestinians themselves have resolutely opposed any forced removal from their homeland, refusing to be treated as pawns in a geopolitical chess game.

The Historical Context of Displacement

Israeli historian Benny Morris has openly acknowledged that the creation of Israel inherently involved population transfer and ethnic cleansing. The continuous expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank is viewed as an ongoing effort toward forced displacement, albeit in slow motion. Many experts argue that Trump's rhetoric aligns with the long-standing Zionist ambition for a so-called Greater Israel, which includes not just the West Bank and Gaza but also parts of Jordan, Syria, and beyond.

Regional and International Reactions

It remains to be seen whether the international community will take decisive steps to prevent further displacement of Palestinians. However, one thing is clear: Palestinians are determined to stay in their homeland, and Arab nations are standing firm against external pressure to alter the region's demographic landscape.