WASHINGTON – On January 25, US President Donald Trump urged Jordan and Egypt to accept more Palestinians from Gaza, where Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas has created a severe humanitarian crisis.
When asked if his suggestion was temporary or long-term, Trump responded, “Could be either.”
In 2024, Washington had opposed the forcible displacement of Palestinians. Rights groups and humanitarian agencies have raised concerns over the situation in Gaza for months, with the war displacing nearly the entire population and causing a hunger crisis. Despite criticism for backing Israel, the US has maintained its support, stating that it is helping Israel defend against Iran-backed militant groups like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen.
“I said to him, I’d love you to take on more because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now and it’s a mess, it’s a real mess. I’d like him to take people,” Trump said about his call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on January 25.
“I’d like Egypt to take people,” Trump told reporters, adding that he would speak to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on January 26.
“You’re talking about a million-and-half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” Trump said.
The population in the Palestinian enclave prior to the start of the Israel-Gaza war was around 2.3 million.
Trump described Gaza as “literally a demolition site.”
“Almost everything is demolished and people are dying there, so I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change,” he said.
Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Since then, Israel’s campaign has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities there. More than 400 Israeli soldiers have also died in Gaza combat.
A ceasefire went into effect a week ago, leading to the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.