In a recent press interaction aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump proposed a solution to the ongoing crisis in Gaza that defies conventional wisdom and expert advice.
He suggested that Egypt and Jordan should admit some of the Palestinian Arabs in Gaza as refugees. The President's proposition, grounded in practicality, has sparked a new conversation about the future of Palestinians in the region.
According to The Federalist, Trump stated, Id like Egypt to take people, and Id like Jordan to take people. Youre talking about probably a million and a half people; we just clean out that whole thing. He further revealed his conversation with King Abdullah II of Jordan, saying, I said to him. Id love for you to take on more, cause Im looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and its a mess. Its a real mess.
The President also acknowledged the historical conflicts in the Middle East and suggested that resettlement could be a temporary or long-term solution. He emphasized, Something has to happen. Its literally a demolition site right now. Almost everythings demolished, and people are dying there. So, Id 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.
Despite the anticipated influx of aid into Gaza, it is likely that most of it will be seized by Hamas. The cease-fire brokered by Trump, despite his opposition to the terror group, inadvertently ensures Hamas' continued hold on power. Trump's idea of providing Palestinians with shelter and new lives elsewhere emerges as the most humanitarian approach to their predicament.
However, the international consensus, accepted by the Biden administration and the foreign policy establishment, insists that Palestinians living in Gaza must remain in place, despite the massive devastation caused by the war initiated by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. This stance contrasts with the treatment of other refugee populations from the same era.
The United Nations, in response to the global refugee problem following World War II, created two agencies to address the crisis and the need for resettlement of displaced persons. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was tasked with assisting the 700,000 displaced Arabs, while the U.N. High Commission for Refugees was responsible for all other refugees.
Over time, the U.N. High Commission fulfilled its task, but UNRWA adopted a different approach. Instead of resettling Palestinian Arabs, it ensured they remained in refugee camps, which have now evolved into run-down urban developments. This strategy was aimed at preserving the theoretical possibility that these refugees could return to their former homes and essentially rewrite the history of the conflict with Israel.
This approach resulted in UNRWA educating generations of Palestinians to harbor animosity towards Israel and demand its destruction. The agency also became infiltrated by Hamas, with several of its employees participating in the Oct. 7 atrocities and using its facilities to imprison Israeli hostages.
Arab states hosting the refugee camps, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, have consistently refused to offer Palestinians citizenship. This policy has resulted in the original refugees being replaced by their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who are also accorded refugee status, contrary to legal precedent.
The issue of Palestinian refugees is not merely about the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. If it were, the conflict would have ended long ago. The Palestinians have repeatedly rejected offers of independence and statehood, including Trump's 2020 Peace to Prosperity Middle East plan. This refusal is rooted in the Hamas Charter, which demands both Israels extinction and the genocide of its Jewish population.
While the implementation of Trump's idea seems doubtful under the current circumstances, it is worth considering. Jordan and Egypt are wary of the potential political instability that could arise from admitting Palestinian supporters of Hamas. However, there is a possibility that a significant minority of Palestinians might embrace the opportunity for a better life elsewhere.
Trump's success in brokering the Abraham Accords in 2020 by excluding the Palestinians demonstrated that the region could progress without being held hostage to their enduring intransigence. Despite the reluctance of other Arab countries to get involved, Trump's position should be pursued.
The only hope for those trapped in Gaza is to break free from the cycle of violence perpetuated by Hamas and other Palestinian groups. Starting the process of resettling Gaza civilians who desire a better life elsewhere could provide them an option they have been denied until now. While success is uncertain, even a small victory could undermine Hamas. Those who claim to sympathize with the Palestinian cause or desire peace in the Middle East should support this stand.
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