Loading ...The King of Jordan Met with Trump: Navigating Gaza's Future
By Ghassan Rubeiz / Arab America Contributing Writer
The irony is stark: while Trump wages a war against migrants to the United States, he simultaneously proposes the forced migration of two million Gazans to Arab countries already overburdened with millions of refugees from Palestine, Syria, and Sudan.
King Abdullah II of Jordan met with Trump this week under circumstances that constrained frank discussion. Their televised press conference on February 11 lacked warmth and authenticity, but it succeeded in reducing tensions. Trump had already learned about the opposition from both the King and the entire Arab world to the idea of displacing Gazans to neighboring countries, particularly Jordan and Egypt. The King, in turn, was aware of Trump’s threat to cut foreign aid if Jordan rejected his plans for Gaza. While Trump stepped back from these threats, he remained committed to his real estate vision for war-ravaged Gaza.
The King arrived in Washington with a diplomatic approach, assuring the U.S. president of his willingness to collaborate on Gaza’s reconstruction. He also conveyed that Egyptian President Sisi, scheduled to visit the White House next week for similar discussions, is eager to explore various scenarios for Gaza’s future that would serve the common interests of the U.S., the Middle East, and Israel. His Majesty informed the U.S. president that Jordan plans to receive two thousand sick children from Gaza—a humanitarian gesture Trump acknowledged as a sign of cooperation with the U.S. administration.
I observed the King listening patiently as Trump outlined his grandiose plan to “bring peace” to the Middle East by transforming Gaza into a tourist destination. Trump described it as a massive “job opportunity” for people of all backgrounds, including those from the region. The King’s response demonstrated remarkable diplomacy and self-discipline, carefully measuring his words against his true thoughts and feelings.
At several points, the King subtly suggested that while ideas for Gaza’s future exist, no concrete plan has been finalized. He emphasized to the press conference audience the importance of considering Egypt’s position, the desires of Gaza’s people, and the broader Arab world’s vision for Palestine. “There is a plan from Egypt and the Arab countries,” the King noted pointedly.
As Trump builds castles in the sky for Gaza’s future, the reality on the ground shifts daily. Both Israel and Hamas are threatening to abandon their ceasefire commitments, which were meant to end the war through an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has threatened to delay releasing additional hostages, while Israel has warned it will resume warfare if Hamas fails to free nine expected hostages by noon on Saturday, February 15.
Given these developments, Trump focused more intensely on the ceasefire dynamics than on the Gaza relocation project. When discussing the ceasefire, he aligned with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s position: if Hamas doesn’t release all hostages by Saturday, Trump would expect Israel to resume its attacks on Gaza to defeat and eliminate Hamas from the enclave.
When President Sisi arrives in Washington next week, he may present an Arab-backed proposal that includes limited, humanitarian-based migration from Gaza. By then, the ceasefire’s fate should be clearer. Sisi is likely in regular consultation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the region’s most influential Arab leader, and together they may present a significantly modified scenario for Gaza’s future.
However, if war resumes in Gaza, the trajectory of Trump’s relocation plans becomes uncertain. The prospect of reactivating the Israeli military campaign is deeply concerning. The King’s visit to Washington this week demonstrated diplomatic wisdom in avoiding detailed discussion of Trump’s premature scheme for Gaza.
Ghassan Rubeiz is the former Middle East Secretary of the World Council of Churches. Earlier, he taught psychology and social work in his country of birth, Lebanon, and later in the United States, where he currently lives. He has contributed to political commentary for the past twenty years and delivered occasional public talks on peace, justice, and interfaith subjects. You can reach him at rubeizg@gmail.com
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Arab America. The reproduction of this article is permissible with proper credit to Arab America and the author.
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