It’s “ethnic cleansing,”: Arab League, Egypt condemn proposed displacement of Palestinians

Palestinians make their way back to their homes in northern Gaza [Ramadan Abed/Reuters]
The Arab League issued a strong warning against “attempts to uproot the Palestinian people from their land” following U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion to relocate Gaza’s population to Egypt and Jordan.
The League described such actions as “ethnic cleansing,” emphasizing that past efforts involving displacement, annexation, or settlement expansion have consistently failed.
Egypt echoed this condemnation, with its foreign ministry reaffirming “continued support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land.”
The ministry rejected any measures infringing on Palestinians’ inalienable rights, including displacement or forced transfers, whether temporary or permanent.
Trump’s comments referred to Gaza as a “demolition site,” proposing that Egypt and Jordan accept its residents.
The suggestion follows 15 months of war, including the Israel-Hamas conflict beginning in October 2023, during which both Egypt and Jordan have expressed concern over potential displacement schemes.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has described such proposals as a “red line” threatening Egypt’s national security. He warned that displacement efforts could undermine the cause of Palestinian statehood, stressing the necessity of preserving the population’s connection to their land.
Egypt has reiterated its commitment to a “two-state solution,” asserting that this framework would become unattainable if Palestinians were forcibly removed from their territories.