Report: Why Arab Nations May Secretly Approve of Trump’s Gaza ‘Takeover’ Proposal

Saudi Arabia and other Arab states have openly rejected President Trump’s proposal to relocate the 2.3 million residents of war-torn Gaza and allow the US to take control and revamp the area. However, some experts believe these nations might quietly back the plan, as it could finally resolve a long-standing conflict and diminish Hamas’ tight control over Gaza, according to a former negotiator for Israel and Palestine, the NY Post reports.

Avi Melamed, a former senior intelligence officer in Israel who also advised on Arab affairs, stated that countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan might secretly support Trump’s initiative for Gaza as it could be a potential resolution to their own struggles with Hamas. “I wouldn’t be surprised to know that in the back rooms, the Saudis, the Egyptians, the Jordanians, are very much happy about Trump’s… that idea of the United States taking control over the situation in Gaza,” Melamed told The Post.

“We have to remember that in the end of the day, Hamas presents Egypt and Jordan and the Saudis and the Emirates… a significant threat,” he added. These Arab nations have shown little favor for Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007, and are concerned with its ties to Iran, a major regional competitor. Instead, they have expressed a desire for the ousted Palestinian Authority to return to manage the region.

Melamed, however, believes that a major shift in Gaza is necessary to change the current power dynamics. Therefore, Arab states might be open to the idea of US intervention in the region. But, a major obstacle in this plan is Trump’s suggestion of relocating Gaza’s population to Egypt and Jordan, which both rejected on Wednesday despite Trump’s claim that they “love the ideal.”

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized that Gaza should be rebuilt “without moving the Palestinians out,” advocating for a two-state solution as the key to resolving the Middle East conflict. Egypt has long kept a tight grip on its border with Gaza, preventing Palestinians from seeking refuge, even during intense war periods when over a million refugees flooded into Rafah.

King Abdullah II of Jordan, a significant ally of Israel and the US in the region, also rejected Trump’s plan, insisting that any solution must keep Palestinians on their land. “His Majesty King Abdullah II stresses the need to put a stop to settlement expansion, expressing rejection of any attempts to annex land and displace the Palestinians,” the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan stated on X.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, defended the president’s idea, stating that it’s simply not feasible for Palestinians to remain in Gaza as it is. “Gaza today is uninhabitable and will probably be uninhabitable for at least the next 10 to 15 years,” Witkoff said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “If there are different places for them to live, let them make that choice.”

In response to the widespread criticism from Arab nations, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Trump’s plan was intended to push Arab countries to “step up” and come forward with their own solutions. “I think [Trump’s plan] is going to bring the entire region to come [up] with their own solutions,” Waltz commented.

White House Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus also addressed the group of Arab ambassadors who opposed relocating the Gazans, saying that Trump did not want a simple “No” but instead wanted neighboring states to propose their own solutions, according to Axios. A source familiar with internal discussions at the White House mentioned that Trump is thinking creatively to secure peace in the region.

“President Trump is making it clear that he’s willing to re-write the rules in pursuit of peace and prosperity,” the source told The Post. “Does it sound impossible? Sure. But so did his campaign as he came down the golden escalator in 2015. That’s the story of Donald Trump,” the source added.

“Peace doesn’t happen by just rinse and repeating the same failed diplomatic platitudes. It happens by doing something so profoundly different that it reshapes the entire paradigm.” Trump’s bold proposal may ultimately be a tactic to stir the region into action, much like his first term when he entertained the idea of Israel annexing parts of the West Bank. After that plan faced backlash, his administration shifted to focus on normalizing relations between Israel and Arab nations through the Abraham Accords, which were accepted by the United Arab Emirates in 2020.

Alex Plitsas, a senior fellow at the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, expressed doubts about the feasibility of Trump’s current plan, pointing out the significant challenges in terms of financial resources and logistical support. He suggested that the plan could be seen as a negotiation tactic, much like Trump’s approach to trade agreements, though success would depend on navigating the complex dynamics in Gaza.

It remains uncertain what steps Trump will take next with the Arab states, as Leavitt declined to comment to avoid preempting the president’s negotiations. A clearer vision for Gaza might emerge when Trump meets with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House next week.

{Matzav.com}