Why it matters:
Trump's proposal raises serious ethical and humanitarian concerns. The notion of "buying and owning" a territory disregards the rights and wishes of the Palestinians who live there.
The big picture:
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Jordan's King Abdullah II to the White House on Tuesday as he increases pressure on the Arab nation to accept refugees from Gaza, potentially on a permanent basis, as part of his ambitious strategy to reshape West Asia.
The meeting occurs during a critical juncture for the current ceasefire, with Hamas stating that Israel's breach of the truce and announcing a halt in future prisoner releases. President Trump has urged Israel to resume military aggression if all individuals still held captive are not released by the upcoming weekend.
Key points:
- During the publicly open portion of their Oval Office meeting, Trump reiterated his intention to “take over” Gaza and relocate its Palestinian residents to neighboring countries.
- Trump's proposal has sparked widespread anger across Jordan, which is already home to over 2 million Palestinian refugees.
- To leverage their acceptance of more Palestinians from Gaza, the proposal suggests suspending U.S. financial assistance to Jordan and Egypt, longstanding allies and major beneficiaries of American foreign aid.
Go deeper:
Trump Reiterates U.S. Control Over Gaza, Claims Commitment to "Buying and Owning"
