President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate approximately 1.5 million Gazans to Egypt and Jordan came as a political shockwave to the Arab world.
Leaders across the region are still grappling with the implications, seeking ways to mitigate their impact or resist them entirely, fearing potential repercussions from the United States. The implementation of Trump’s emigration plan for Gaza is a significant challenge, and the Arab world is closely watching to see if he can persuade the leaders of Egypt and Jordan to support his plan.
According to American officials familiar with the matter, Trump is serious about his proposal—this is not a theoretical suggestion. Trump is now facing a crucial test that will determine how the Arab world perceives him. According to Arab commentators and experts, his leadership is being tested; failure to demonstrate determination could undermine his influence in the region.
During and after his meeting at the White House with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 4, 2025, Trump revealed new details about his plans for Gaza. He announced that “the U.S. will take control of Gaza, flatten it, and clear out bombs and destroyed homes.”
He stated, “The Palestinians have no choice but to leave, and it will become an international zone.”
Trump emphasized that “the Palestinian Authority will struggle to control Gaza” and, regarding the two-state solution, remarked, “We need to learn from history—what has not worked for decades will not work anymore.”
The leaders of Egypt and Jordan, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and King Abdullah II, respectively, also find themselves in a precarious position. They face intense scrutiny from their citizens and must decide whether to resist Trump’s plan or acquiesce to U.S. pressure. Will they yield to Trump, or will they stand firm?
To counter the proposal, al-Sisi has already orchestrated mass protests in the Egyptian city of Rafah, a strategic move intended to signal opposition. Arab governments often employ such tactics to rally public sentiment against policies they oppose.
However, the fragile political landscapes of Egypt and Jordan could turn these protests into liabilities. The Muslim Brotherhood, a powerful opposition movement, orchestrated large-scale demonstrations in Cairo and Amman over the weekend.
Security officials predict that if widespread protests erupt, Arab governments will suppress them while simultaneously staging demonstrations that align with their interests.
Behind closed doors, al-Sisi and Abdullah reportedly favor Hamas’s defeat in both Gaza and the West Bank. Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, poses a direct threat to their rule, just as the Brotherhood did during the 2011 overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. They see the current war in Gaza as an opportunity to weaken the movement.
Any perception of Hamas emerging victorious would embolden Islamist opposition groups and threaten the stability of their regimes. Publicly, however, both leaders maintain a delicate balancing act. They must appear resistant to Trump’s plan to avoid domestic backlash and protect their international standing.
It is not inconceivable that they have privately communicated conditional support for the proposal, provided Trump applies enough pressure to make it seem like they had no choice but to comply.
On February 1, 2025, al-Sisi convened a conference in Cairo with leaders from five Arab nations and the Secretary-General of the Arab League. The summit concluded with a formal rejection of Trump’s emigration plan, accompanied by rhetoric-heavy statements. However, few take the conference’s outcome or declarations seriously within the region.
Trump views his proposal as a real estate opportunity, arguing that it will not only improve Palestinian living conditions in Gaza but also bolster Israeli national security and economic prospects. He envisions Egyptian businesses playing a role in Gaza’s reconstruction. Trump sees Gaza as an area with economic potential, boasting an attractive location for business and real estate projects.
The coming weeks will be a defining moment for Trump’s leadership. He will host Abdullah at the White House, followed by al-Sisi, to persuade them to accept his plan.
He has promised to visit Israel and Gaza, and the Arab world is watching closely to see whether he can turn his plan into reality. His ability to implement it will be a critical test of his resolve.
