Arab foreign ministers firmly opposed the displacement of Palestinians from their homeland under any circumstances during a meeting on Saturday, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for Egypt and Jordan to accommodate residents of the Gaza Strip.
In a joint statement issued after their gathering in Cairo, officials from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League warned that such a move would destabilize the region, fuel further conflict, and undermine prospects for peace.
"We reaffirm our rejection of any attempts to violate the inalienable rights of Palestinians, whether through settlement expansion, forced evictions, annexation of land, or displacement in any form, under any pretext or justification," the statement declared.
Despite their opposition, the ministers expressed willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration toward a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, grounded in a two-state solution.
The meeting followed Trump’s remarks last week suggesting that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians from Gaza, which he described as a "demolition site" after 15 months of Israeli bombardment that left most of its 2.3 million residents homeless. His proposal has been widely criticized as an act of ethnic cleansing.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi strongly dismissed the idea on Wednesday, stating that Egypt would not facilitate the forced displacement of Gazans and warning that Egyptians would take to the streets in protest.
Nevertheless, Trump reiterated his stance on Thursday, insisting, "We do a lot for them, and they are going to do it," referencing extensive U.S. aid, including military support, to both Egypt and Jordan.
The Palestinian leadership and neighboring Arab states have consistently rejected any suggestion of relocating Palestinians from Gaza, a territory they consider essential for an independent Palestinian state. Jordan, which already hosts millions of Palestinians, and Egypt, home to tens of thousands, have both rejected Trump's proposal in recent statements.
The Arab ministers also endorsed Egypt’s initiative to convene an international conference, in collaboration with the United Nations, to focus on Gaza’s reconstruction. The conference date has yet to be determined.
