U.S. President Donald Trump wants to remove Palestinians from Gaza and take control of the territory. He has put forward such a proposal. In response, Arab countries are making urgent efforts to present an alternative proposal to shape the future of Palestine. Saudi Arabia is leading this initiative, according to reports from Reuters and Arab News.
This month, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to hold a crucial meeting in Riyadh to discuss the future of Palestine.
According to a source who requested anonymity, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will also attend the meeting. Various draft proposals on Palestine will be discussed at the meeting, including the establishment of a Palestinian reconstruction fund led by Gulf countries. Additionally, there are discussions about bypassing Hamas to reach a settlement. Five sources have provided this information.
Trump’s plan to “eradicate” Palestinians from Gaza and relocate them to Jordan and Egypt has come as a major shock to the Arab world. Cairo and Amman immediately rejected Trump’s proposal, stating that such a plan would further destabilize the region.
Sources indicate that Saudi Arabia is particularly disappointed with Trump’s plan because it undermines their demand for the establishment of a Palestinian state as a condition for normalizing relations with Israel.
Reuters has spoken to sources from 15 Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, who emphasized the urgency of developing an alternative proposal to Trump’s plan. A source from the Saudi government revealed that at least four draft proposals regarding Gaza’s future have already been prepared. However, at present, an Egyptian draft proposal is at the center of discussions.
Egypt’s proposal suggests forming a national Palestinian committee to govern Gaza without Hamas’s involvement. Instead of relocating Palestinians abroad, the proposal emphasizes reconstruction efforts in Gaza with international participation, leading toward a two-state solution.
Three Egyptian security sources, speaking anonymously, confirmed this information. Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Palestine will review the proposal and discuss it in Riyadh. This plan is set to be presented at the Arab Summit on February 27.
A key question now is the role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A Jordanian official stated, “We have informed U.S. officials that we are moving forward with a plan. Our meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince is crucial as he is leading the effort.”
In 2016, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had a warm relationship with Trump’s first administration. He is also playing an important role in dealings with Trump’s second administration.
As a longstanding regional partner of the U.S., the Crown Prince has been expanding Saudi Arabia’s influence through business and global political alliances.
This month, Saudi Arabia is set to host a conference in Miami, where Trump is expected to attend. Additionally, Riyadh is facilitating a potential meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
The White House has not commented on the Arab countries’ plans. However, last Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “At this moment, the only plan—whether they like it or not—is Trump’s plan. But if they have a better plan, now is the time to present it.”
Arab countries’ spokespersons have not provided any comments on the matter.