Arab Countries Work on Plan to Rebuild Gaza Without Displacement

Arab countries, led by Jordan and supported by others, are actively formulating a plan to rebuild Gaza in a way that avoids displacing its people while ensuring long-term security and governance. Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi emphasized that the country could not take in more Palestinians, noting that 35% of Jordan's population are refugees. This stance came as a direct rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in Jordan and Egypt, which was widely seen as destabilizing by the Arab world.

Safadi made it clear during the Munich Security Conference that Jordan, like Egypt, rejected the idea of resettling Palestinians within its borders, stating that both nations could not accommodate more refugees. He highlighted the Arab initiative to offer an alternative that would not only preserve the population of Gaza but also address its reconstruction needs in a manner that ensures security and governance for the region’s future.

King Abdullah of Jordan, who met with President Trump in Washington on February 11, reiterated the country's opposition to the plan, while promoting the Arab proposal as both "cheaper and faster" than Trump’s approach, a suggestion that President Trump seemed receptive to.

The broader Arab plan for Gaza aims to avoid displacing its residents while rebuilding the territory and ensuring long-term peace and stability. Safadi emphasized that Israel’s future security would also depend on the peace and security of its neighbors, urging Israel to adopt a long-term vision for the region.