Trump and King Abdullah Meeting; Rising Discussions on Gaza Reconstruction

On Tuesday, February 12, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, met with King Abdullah of Jordan. Analysts say this meeting will be 'tense' following rising discussions about the idea of reconstructing Gaza by the U.S. President and Jordan's threat to cut aid to the country if it refuses to accommodate Palestinians. Trump has stated that Palestinians currently living in Gaza will be relocated outside the area according to his plan, and they will not have the right to return. In an interview with Fox News, he described his plan for this narrow strip along the Mediterranean coast as the 'future property development plan.' The U.S. President's proposal has met with negative reactions from Arab countries and has complicated sensitive Middle Eastern issues, including the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Hamas announced on Monday, February 11, that it would halt the process of releasing Israeli hostages from Gaza until further notice, claiming that Israel has violated the agreement. Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is committed to releasing a number of Israeli hostages as it has done over the past three Saturdays in exchange for the release of several Palestinian prisoners from Israel. Trump warned that if the Israeli hostages are not released by Saturday according to the ceasefire plan, 'hell will break loose.' King Abdullah has rejected any action that would lead to the displacement of Palestinians. According to Reuters, he is expected to tell Trump that such actions could promote radicalism, create chaos in the region, jeopardize peace with Israel, and threaten the survival of the country. Trump and Abdullah will not make public statements, indicating the sensitivity of their discussions. This is also the first time since Trump’s return to power that he has hosted a foreign leader without holding a press conference. On Monday, February 11, Trump told reporters at the White House, 'I think [King Abdullah] will accept the refugees.' When asked whether he would withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refuse this request, he said he would take that action. Jordan, with a population of 11 million, currently hosts over 2 million Palestinian refugees and is dependent on military and economic aid from Washington. Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told Reuters that King Abdullah is 'in a very vulnerable position because the United States has many levers.' This expert also emphasized that Jordan hosts U.S. forces and air equipment and is considered an important partner for Washington. Furthermore, the peace treaty with Israel in 1994 is crucial for maintaining regional stability. Trump: If Jordan and Egypt do not accept the Gaza plan, U.S. aid to them may be cut. There is no place for the return of Palestinians in Trump's plan for Gaza. Before meeting with King Abdullah, Trump stated he is committed to buying and owning the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu described the meeting with Trump as 'a historic turning point for Israel.' Riyadh opposed Netanyahu's comments about the exit of Palestinians from Gaza. Trump stated regarding the outcomes of the Gaza plan: stability will prevail in the region. The Israeli army is preparing a plan for the 'voluntary exit' of Palestinians from Gaza.