Jordan Rejects Trump Proposal to move Palestinians from Gaza, as Renewed Conflict Looms

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan24) Jordan’s ruler, King, Abdullah II, met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Although their meeting appeared cordial, Abdullah rejected Trump’s proposal to move Palestinians out of Gaza and transform its Mediterranean coastline into a Middle Eastern version of the French Riviera.

The two leaders held an impromptu press conference in the Oval office. Generally speaking, Abdullah affirmed that he adhered to an Arab consensus that opposes  the transfer of the Palestinian population.

Notably, Trump rescinded an earlier threat to suspend U.S. aid to Jordan and Egypt, if they did not take in Palestinians who were moved out of Gaza. As Trump said, “I think we’re above that.”

However, Trump did repeat an earlier threat to Hamas that he had made in response to Hamas’s complaint that Israel was violating the ceasefire and, therefore, Hamas was suspending additional hostage releases “until further notice.”

Read More: Egyptian Foreign Minister visits Washington, as Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Appears on Verge of Collapse

Trump reaffirmed that all hostages had to be released by Saturday. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has returned to Israel after a week in Washington, echoed that threat, saying, “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end and the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] will return to intense fighting until a final victory over Hamas.”

History of Warm Ties Between the U.S. and Jordan 

With King Abdullah sitting at his side, Trump told reporters at Tuesday’s press conference that he has a warm and lengthy personal relationship with the Jordanian leader. 

“He’s been a friend of mine for a long time,” Trump said, “actually long before even my first term. And we’ve had a great relationship.” 

“He's a great gentleman, a great leader,” Trump continued, “and does a fantastic job in his country.”

Trump also noted that the Jordanian Crown Prince, the 30 year-old Hussein bin Abdullah, was also present in the meeting. “We're lucky enough to have his handsome son with us today,” Trump said, “so it's good to see you again.”

Abdullah, who is the first Arab leader to meet with Trump in his second term, reciprocated with warm words himself. Abdullah addressed Trump, noting that the early timing of their meeting was “a testament to what you said is a special relationship between our two countries and the personal relationship of friendship and trust between the two of us.”

Early in the press conference, Abdullah flattered Trump before the cameras, saying, “I truly believe that with all the challenges that we have in the Middle East, that I finally see somebody that can take us across the finish line to bring stability, peace and prosperity to all of us in the region.”

Differences Emerge

However, differences between the two leaders soon emerged. Asked by a reporter about Trump’s plan for Gaza, Abdullah responded with a gesture to Trump, saying that his country would immediately provide medical treatment for 2000 seriously ill children in Gaza, transporting them to hospitals in Jordan.

But at the same time, Abdullah politely brushed aside Trump’s proposal for Gaza. “We have to keep in mind that there is a plan from Egypt and the Arab countries.” Abdullah said. “We’re being invited by [Saudi Crown Prince] Mohammed bin Salman to discussions in Riyadh.”

Egypt announced on Sunday, as it responded to Trump’s plan for Gaza, that it would be hosting an emergency Arab summit on Feb. 27 to discuss what it called  “new and dangerous developments.” 

Nonetheless, Trump repeated his proposal in his meeting on Tuesday with Abdullah.

“The Palestinians, or the people that live now in Gaza,” Trump said, “will be living beautifully in another location.” 

“They're going to be living safely. They're not going to be killed, murdered, and having to leave every ten years,” he continued. 

“Eventually we'll have economic development at a very large scale, maybe the largest scale, on that site,” Trump added. “We'll have lots of good things built there, including hotels and office buildings and housing and other things. And we'll make that site into what it should be.”

It was as if Trump and Abdullah were talking past each other. But to make his position clear, following his meeting with Trump, Abdullah posted to X, in Arabic, “I reaffirmed Jordan's steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This is the unified Arab stance.”

أعدت التأكيد على موقف الأردن الثابت ضد التهجير للفلسطينيين في غزة والضفة الغربية. وهذا هو الموقف العربي الموحد. يجب أن تكون أولوية الجميع إعادة إعمار غزة دون تهجير أهلها، والتعامل مع الوضع الإنساني الصعب في القطاع.

— عبدالله بن الحسين (@KingAbdullahII) February 11, 2025

“Everyone's priority should be the reconstruction of Gaza without displacing its people, and dealing with the difficult humanitarian situation in the strip,” Abdullah said.

Trump’s Denunciation of Hamas

Trump had strong words for Hamas. After all, it was Hamas that started the conflict with its Oct. 7, 2023, assault into Israel. And, now, Hamas’s statement that it will not release more hostages threatens the ceasefire, while it plays into the hands of Israel’s right-wing, which had opposed the ceasefire.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Trump noted the poor physical condition of the last hostages whom Hamas freed and suggested that may relate to Hamas’s suspension of further hostage releases.

“I think the reason that Hamas is playing so cute,” Trump said, “is because they probably saw the reaction to these three people that came out.”

There was astonishment and anger, because they were “in such bad shape,” with Trump likening them to Holocaust survivors. 

“They're sending the most healthy people out because they don't want to send the least healthy people out,” Trump suggested, and that has created a dilemma for Hamas. It was obligated to release the hostages, but “they were treated really badly, and we’ve heard things from them since.”

So people are angry, if Hamas releases the hostages, and they are also angry, if it doesn’t.

Thus, Trump offered the opinion, “I don’t think they’re going to make the [Saturday] deadline.”

It remains to be seen whether Trump is right or not. But if Hamas does not release at least three hostages, as it is obligated to do under the ceasefire agreement, then it is highly likely that the conflict will resume.