Jordanian King Abdullah II agrees to just accept 2,000 Gaza youngsters as Trump eases off US assist menace

Trump on Tuesday reiterated his want for the US to take possession of Gaza, however Abdullah sidestepped questions concerning the lightning-rod plan, saying he would talk about the way forward for the territory at an upcoming assembly in Saudi Arabia as soon as Egypt presents its proposal.

The US president referred to as the king’s provide to resettle sick youngsters a “stunning” gesture and heaped reward on the Jordanian chief.

“We contribute some huge cash to Jordan and to Egypt, by the best way, so much to each. However I don’t must threaten that. I believe we’re above that,” Trump advised reporters.

Close to the beginning of the assembly, Abdullah stated he would get the kids, who’re both most cancers sufferers or “in a really in poor health state,” to Jordan “as shortly as potential.”

Trump’s name to show the Gaza Strip right into a US-owned “Riviera” has drawn widespread condemnation within the Center East, probably imperiling the delicate truce between Israel and Hamas. However Abdullah’s go to to Washington exhibits Arab leaders have little selection however to cope with the emboldened US president.

Abdullah had been anticipated to ship a message from his cohorts that Trump’s proposal was a non-starter. Critics have stated the plan quantities to ethnic cleaning. Jordan and Egypt already rejected his plan to relocate Gaza’s Palestinians to their international locations in an effort to rebuild a strip that he has referred to as a “demolition web site.”

Trump nonetheless has indicated he’s critical about displacement and unwilling to again down within the face of criticism. The president stated “no” when requested throughout a current Fox Information interview if Palestinians would have the fitting of return to Gaza. He additionally prompt he may use US international assist as leverage towards Jordan and Egypt.

“I’m speaking about constructing a everlasting place for them” as a result of Gaza is “not liveable,” Trump stated within the interview.

Earlier: Trump Warns Hamas on Hostages, Threatens Jordan and Egypt Assist

Trump heightened that stress on Monday forward of Abdullah’s go to, when he was requested straight by reporters if he would lower off assist to Egypt and Jordan if they didn’t agree to just accept Palestinian refugees.

“Yeah, possibly, positive why not? In the event that they don’t, I’d conceivably withhold assist, sure,” Trump stated.

The true property developer-turned-president stated on Tuesday, nevertheless, that he didn’t plan to personally purchase property in Gaza throughout his proposed US-led rebuilding effort.

“No,” Trump stated. “You might simply do extra good for folks if you’re president.”

Jordan and Egypt have been the fourth- and fifth-largest recipients of US assist in 2023, based on an evaluation from Bloomberg Economics. That assist accounts for lower than 0.5% of Egypt’s gross home product however Jordan is extra uncovered with the help making up 3% of its GDP.

Fueling the solidarity with Palestinians is concern amongst Arab leaders about broader regional stability. Along with the Gaza battle, Israel has carried out strikes in Lebanon, Syria is grappling with the demise of Bashar Al-Assad, Egypt and Jordan’s leaders have inner safety woes, and Saudi Arabia is as soon as once more mulling a normalization cope with Israel.

All of these dynamics may very well be rattled if Trump pushed forward with a pressured displacement of Palestinians after a battle that has seen tens of 1000’s killed.

Trump has additionally added to uncertainty concerning the fragile ceasefire in Gaza after Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the US, threatened to delay indefinitely the subsequent launch of Israeli hostages that’s scheduled for this weekend.

“If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday 12 o’clock — I believe it’s an applicable time — I’d say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell escape,” Trump stated,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that warning later Tuesday, saying that “if Hamas doesn’t return our hostages by Saturday midday, the ceasefire will finish” and the Israeli army “will resume intense combating till the ultimate defeat of Hamas.”

However it wasn’t instantly clear whether or not Netanyahu was referring to the discharge of all hostages or solely these within the subsequent deliberate trade for Palestinians held by Israel.