President Donald Trump discussed his desire for Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations to take in more Palestinian refugees from Gaza during a recent interview. He suggested that this move could potentially help in rebuilding the area that was heavily impacted by the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Trump mentioned that he had spoken with King Abdullah II of Jordan and planned to talk to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt regarding this issue. He emphasized the importance of finding solutions to address the refugee crisis in Gaza.
Specifically, Trump expressed his hope for Egypt to accept a significant number of refugees, estimating around one and a half million people. He indicated that such actions could lead to a resolution that benefits all parties involved.
Trump said he applauded Jordan for accepting Palestinian refugees but that he told the king: “I’d love for you to take on more, because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess.”
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One as he travels from Las Vegas to Miami on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP)
Trump also said Saturday that he ended former President Joe Biden’s hold on sending 2,000-pound bombs to Israel that was in place during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which has been under a ceasefire for a week.
“We released them today,” Trump said of the bombs. “They’ve been waiting for them for a long time.” Trump said he lifted the ban on the bombs “Because they bought them.”
Biden had halted the delivery of the bombs in May in an effort to prevent Israel from launching an all-out assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
The 15-month-long war in Gaza started when Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, prompting military retaliation from Israeli forces. Nearly 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
