‘I’d 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,’ Trump said.
President Donald Trump on Jan. 25 called on Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab nations to accept more Palestinian refugees from Gaza. His objective, he said, is to “just clean [it] out” and create a virtual clean slate for the territory.
During a 20-minute press conference aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed he had lifted former President Joe Biden’s restrictions on delivering 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, a measure aimed at reducing civilian casualties in the ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict. Trump confirmed he authorized the release of the bombs the same day, remarking, “They’ve been waiting for them for a long time.” Asked why he lifted the ban, Trump replied, “Because they bought” the bombs.
Trump has been a consistent supporter of Israel and discussed plans for Gaza in conversations with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and a scheduled call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. Regarding Gaza, Trump stated, “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say, ‘You know, it’s over.’” He praised Jordan for hosting Palestinian refugees and urged them to take more. He characterized Gaza as a “demolition site” and added, “Something has to happen. But it’s literally a demolition site right now. Almost everything’s demolished, and people are dying there.”
Trump also proposed working with Arab nations to create new housing for displaced Palestinians, saying, “Some beautiful things could be done with it,” referring to Gaza’s geography and potential.
Responses to Trump’s remarks were swift. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department since 1997, described the proposal as “deplorable,” claiming it amounted to forced displacement. Hamas political official Bassem Naim stated that Gazans would reject any such plans, viewing them as a continuation of displacement strategies long resisted by Palestinians. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, however, supported Trump’s idea, calling it a “great idea” and advocating for unconventional solutions to achieve peace.
Trump’s authorization to resume large bomb shipments represents a departure from Biden-era policies, which delayed such deliveries to minimize civilian harm. The move comes amidst celebrations of a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, though negotiations for the release of remaining hostages are ongoing. Israel has threatened to resume military actions if progress stalls.
