Staff Reports
President Donald Trump has once again thrown the political establishment into a tizzy with his recent suggestions to “clean out” the Gaza Strip, aiming to persuade Jordan and Egypt to step up and host Palestinian refugees. While some may view this as a bold, no-nonsense approach to a long-standing crisis, the leaders in the region are giving Trump about as warm a reception as a snowstorm in July. According to details recently leaked by The Wall Street Journal, the men in charge over in Amman and Cairo are not on board with the idea of taking in thousands of migrants, as if they don’t have enough issues already.
Donald Trump's Plan to 'Clean Out' Gaza Meets With Resistance https://t.co/z4yaY2VDxz
— Carol RN *Miss Rush & the Gipper* 👩⚕️🇺🇸 🇮🇱🦈 (@pasqueflower19) January 28, 2025
Trump’s pitch to King Abdullah II of Jordan was delivered over a phone call wherein he expressed that a hefty dose of population relocation could be just the remedy for a Gaza that’s been the world’s hotspot for conflict for ages. Apparently, the former president thinks that getting a million-and-a-half people to move around like chess pieces could alleviate some tension, but good luck selling that plan to leaders whose crowns are already heavy with the weight of their own countries’ challenges.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump recently made known his intention to send over some rather hefty 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, a move that’s likely as welcomed by Hamas as a cat at a dog show. This decision marks a discerning pivot from the previous administration’s approach under Joe Biden, which might have left some wondering if foreign policy is now determined by which candidate can outdo the other in dramatic fashion.
Egypt swiftly rejected Trump’s refugee proposal, citing fears that it could cause conflict to spill over into their own territory. After all, when countries are battling their own economic woes, the last thing they need is an influx of refugees excited to trade their Gaza experiences for an Airbnb stay in Egypt or Jordan. These leaders have made it clear that they prefer Gazans to stick around, possibly because they understand that every time Palestinians are pushed out, the repercussions don’t just stay in Gaza or Israel; they ripple throughout the region in catastrophic ways.
It’s not just the governments of Jordan and Egypt that are skeptical. Palestinian leaders are rolling their eyes at the audacity of the notion, pointing out that it’s against their very essence to accept being displaced again. The Palestinian Authority has taken a firm stand against this concept, saying it’s a blatant infringement on their rights, which apparently still hold significant weight even amid chaotic realities. A civilian from Gaza echoed this sentiment, calling the prospect of leaving “absolutely impossible,” which sounds like a fair assessment given the geopolitical history at play here.
In the meantime, the pause between Israel and Hamas holds steady—at least for now. Trump’s strategy of evacuation from Gaza may look appealing to some on the surface, but it’s hard to imagine any leader really wanting to play cleanup in a situation that complicated, especially when the consequences of history hang heavily over any moves made in the region. The debate over who should take in refugees may only be just heating up, but it’s clear that some ideas are better left on the drawing board.
