With hundreds of Palestinians awaiting their return to war-torn northern Gaza, United States President Donald Trump suggested Egypt and Jordan take in those seeking to return homes.
The war-ravaged Gaza Strip enclave is literally a demolition site right now, Trump pointed out. He also added that resettling Gaza's population could be temporary or long-term.
Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip is going to take a very long time and the people will have to build from scratch to set up a life in the enclave. "I'd rather get involved with some of the Arab nations, and build housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change," Trump had said.
However, the two US allies Egypt and Jordan are likely to say no to Trump's proposal even though Israel might welcome it.
During the 1967 Mideast war, over 30,000 Palestinians fled when Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The refugee crisis has been an issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the 1940s. The Palestinians claim a right of return, while Israel wanted them to be absorbed by surrounding Arab countries.
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Many Palestinians, who were forced to leave their homes in Gaza during the latest war fear that they may never return if they leave the enclave forever in large numbers.
Earlier, when the same proposal was made by Israeli officials, Egypt and Jordan rejected the idea. Both countries have made peace with Israel but support the creation of a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war.
A permanent displacement of Gaza's population could make that impossible.
Security implications were also cited by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
Hamas, deeply rooted in Palestinian society is likely to fight future wars from Gaza rather than from Egyptian soil.
Jordan already hosts more than 2 million Palestinian refugees and a majority of them have been granted citizenship as well. Israel had suggested that Jordan be considered a Palestinian state so they could keep the West Bank. However, it was rejected by Jordan's monarchy.
Now, it remains to be seen whether Trump could force Egypt and Jordan to accept Palestinian refugees. US tariffs or sanctions could be devastating for Jordan and Egypt and these countries also receive billions of dollars in aid from the US each year as well.
Also, it is to be noted that leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey support the Palestinian cause.
