Daijiworld Media Network - Amman

Amman, Feb 12: Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has reaffirmed that Jordan will not accept any proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, including Jordan and Egypt.

His remarks came after King Abdullah II met former US President Donald Trump at the White House, where Trump reiterated his controversial proposal to remove Palestinians from Gaza, a move critics describe as ethnic cleansing.

“There are firm and unchanging Jordanian positions. Palestinians cannot be transferred to Egypt, Jordan, or any other Arab state,” Safadi told Al Jazeera. He stressed that a just peace can only be achieved through a two-state solution, ensuring Palestinian sovereignty and independence.

Both Jordan and Egypt have strongly opposed any forced displacement. The Palestinian Authority, Hamas, and Arab nations have rejected Trump’s plan outright, while China has also stated, “Gaza belongs to Palestinians.”

During his meeting with Trump, King Abdullah did not directly challenge the proposal but hinted at an alternative plan led by Egypt. He stated that Jordan would take in 2,000 sick Palestinian children for medical treatment but emphasized that the country’s priority is its own national interest.

Jordan, home to over 2 million Palestinian refugees, is now working with other Arab states on a plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its people, Safadi confirmed.

Trump, however, remains firm in his stance, claiming that Palestinians would not want to stay in Gaza. Critics argue that his vision of a redeveloped Gaza filled with hotels and a "Riviera" ambiance ignores the region's deep-rooted political struggles. Palestinians, they say, have long resisted efforts to push them from their homeland despite decades of occupation and conflict.