US President Donald Trump has once again defended his controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, despite both countries’ firm rejections. During a press conference, Trump told reporters, “They will do it. They’re going to do it, okay? We do a lot for them, and they’re going to do it.”
Trump’s comments came after a ceasefire agreement in Gaza took effect on 19 January, which temporarily halted the Israeli airstrikes that have devastated the region and resulted in over 47,400 Palestinian deaths, most of them women and children.
The proposal, which involves resettling Palestinians from Gaza to the neighbouring countries, has been widely criticised as ethnic cleansing and a potential war crime. Egypt and Jordan have both rejected the idea, emphasising that Palestinians should not be forced to leave their homeland.
Trump’s insistence on the plan has sparked outrage, particularly from Arab, Muslim, and European nations, with leaders condemning the proposal as a violation of international law and Palestinian rights.
