US President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion that Jordan and Egypt should take more Palestinians from Gaza has set people in Gaza and other Arab countries into panic. The concept of further displacement from Gaza, already devastated by 15 months of conflict, brings to mind the 1948 “Nakba” when around 700,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes during the creation of Israel. The proposal has heightened concerns among Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom fear another mass exodus and permanent displacement.
History of Displacement
Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, Palestinians have been displaced, and most of them were forced to leave for neighboring countries such as Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, where refugee camps are still available. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which escalated after Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023, has caused significant casualties and extensive destruction. More than 47,000 people have died in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes and military operations, and up to 85% of the population has been displaced from their homes.
Current Situation in Gaza
The Israeli offensive has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As the forces advanced, they ordered the people of northern Gaza to move down to the south, but bombardments have been continuous, without leaving safe shelter for people to find refuge. It is a disaster in a region with such dense population and very few options to find safe shelters. People fear losing their houses and land once and for all.
International Response
Arab states, particularly Egypt and Jordan, strongly oppose any plans to forcibly relocate Palestinians, fearing it could lead to the abandonment of a two-state solution. The United Nations has also expressed concern, with aid chief Martin Griffiths describing the idea of evacuating Gaza to a safe location as an “illusion.”
Israeli Government’s Stance
While Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has clarified that there are no plans to deport Palestinians, comments from other Israeli politicians have only added fuel to the fire. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have come out in support of urging Palestinians to leave Gaza, further fuelling fears of a new Nakba. These statements have caused an uproar among Arab leaders, including Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who accused Israel of trying to “empty Gaza of its people.”
As the conflict in Gaza unfolds, the humanitarian catastrophe worsens, and the possibility of enforced displacement looms over the minds of Palestinians, Arab states, and international organizations. The situation in Gaza is unstable, with no immediate solution at hand.