Foreign ministers from five Arab countries issued a joint statement condemning the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians.
The statement, released on Saturday, expressed a unified stance rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from Gaza.
The foreign ministers and officials from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League warned that Trump’s proposal threatens regional stability, spreads conflict, and undermines peace prospects.
The meeting came after Trump’s suggestion last week that Egypt and Jordan should accommodate Palestinians from Gaza, which he described as a “destruction zone” following 15 months of Israeli airstrikes that left most of the 2.3 million residents homeless.
Egypt and Jordan, key U.S. allies in the region, have consistently rejected Trump’s proposal to “clear out” Gaza. Jordan already hosts millions of Palestinians, while tens of thousands reside in Egypt.
On Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also rejected Trump’s idea, saying Egyptians would take to the streets in protest.
However, on Thursday, Trump reiterated his stance, stating, “We do a lot for them, and they will comply,” referring to the substantial U.S. aid, including military assistance, to Egypt and Jordan.
Analysts have described Trump’s proposal as ethnic cleansing.
Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel Program at the Arab Center in Washington DC, told Al Jazeera earlier this week that Trump’s remarks were “outrageous” and should be condemned for violating fundamental laws and rights.
On Saturday, the foreign ministers emphasized their hope to work with President Trump’s administration to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East, based on a two-state solution.
They also welcomed Egypt’s plan to host an international conference soon under the auspices of the United Nations to focus on Gaza’s reconstruction. They reaffirmed the crucial and irreplaceable role of UNRWA, the UN’s primary aid agency for Palestinians, which has been weakened during the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.
