Trump and Netanyahu’s Proposals for Gaza’s Future Face Strong Opposition
Following a meeting in Washington between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussions on the future of Gaza’s Palestinian population have intensified.
Trump stated in an interview with Fox News that Palestinians would not be allowed to return to Gaza if his proposed reconstruction plans materialize. He suggested relocating around 2 million Palestinians to neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan, claiming they would have "much better housing … in communities a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is."
However, legal experts argue that the forced displacement of Palestinians would violate international law, and the United Nations has warned that such actions could amount to "ethnic cleansing."
Netanyahu also presented a controversial idea, suggesting in an interview with Israel’s Channel 14 that "the Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia, they have a lot of land over there."
Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia have all firmly rejected these proposals, making it clear they will not accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
Saudi Arabia's Firm Stance on Gaza Displacement Complicates Israel Normalization
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has shown growing confidence in rejecting recent proposals from former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. According to Middle East analyst Sebastian Sons, MBS's reaction underscores his firm stance against such plans.
While Washington and Jerusalem prioritize normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia, Sons told DW that Riyadh currently sees it as "an impossibility." He noted that MBS is unwilling to risk credibility, especially as he does not view Netanyahu and Trump as reliable partners in establishing a two-state solution.
Gulf researcher Anna Jacobs of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington echoed this sentiment, stating that Trump's Gaza plan further complicates Saudi-Israel normalization. "The Saudis have made their position very clear that the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land is a non-starter," Jacobs told DW.
Aziz Alghashian, a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation Middle East, highlighted that Saudi Arabia has shifted from a purely pragmatic approach to a more assertive stance. "The Saudis are willing to go head-to-head and disagree with the U.S. instead of being pragmatic like in the past," Alghashian said, adding that MBS's stance has strong public support across Saudi Arabia and the wider Arab world.
However, Sons noted that despite current tensions, MBS and Trump may still find common ground due to
shared strategic interests. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic transformation relies on U.S. investments, making continued cooperation with Washington essential. At the same time, Saudi Arabia remains a key player in U.S. Middle East policy.
Sons suggested that Trump’s approach may involve making "maximum demands" in hopes of securing some concessions from Saudi Arabia. Yet, it remains uncertain whether any potential agreement would address the fate of Palestinians in Gaza. The situation has grown more dire after Hamas called off the ceasefire, raising fears of renewed conflict.
Trump’s Gaza Plan Threatens Saudi-Israel Normalization, Fuels Anti-U.S. Sentiment
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to take control of Gaza and remove over two million Palestinian residents is jeopardizing efforts to establish diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, while also intensifying anti-American sentiment in the oil-rich kingdom, analysts warn.
The controversial plan, which includes redeveloping Gaza while relocating its Palestinian population to neighboring countries, has sparked global outrage and strong opposition from the Arab world. Analysts argue that such a move makes Saudi-Israel normalization increasingly difficult.
"If this is going to be his policy, he shut the door on Saudi recognition of Israel," said James Dorsey, a researcher at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore, in an interview with AFP.
Saudi Arabia, which hosts Islam’s holiest sites, has been viewed as a crucial player in Middle East diplomacy, with its potential recognition of Israel seen as a major step toward regional stability. However, Trump's Gaza plan introduces new challenges. Riyadh now faces the risk of regional instability if neighboring Jordan and Egypt are forced to accommodate a large influx of displaced Palestinians.
As the world's largest oil exporter and the Middle East’s most powerful economy, Saudi Arabia must carefully navigate the growing tensions. With Trump's plan generating backlash from both allies and adversaries, the prospects for Saudi-Israel normalization remain uncertain.
References:-
- Clark, E., Critchfield, H. J., Augustyn, A., & McNamee, https://www.britannica.com/place/Washington-state
- Explorepedia. (n.d.). https://www.explorepedia.org/explore/donald-trump
- Garcia, A. (2025, January 17). 10 Largest economies in MENA. Economy Middle East. https://economymiddleeast.com/biggest-economies-mena/
- Nigeria, G. (2020, May 4). 7 holiest sites in Islam. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. https://guardian.ng/life/7-holiest-sites-in-islam/
- OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION. (n.d.). orfonline.org. https://www.orfonline.org/contributors/abdulaziz-alghashian
- Palestine/Israel - Refugees International. (2024, August 6). Refugees International. https://www.refugeesinternational.org/palestine-israel/#:
- Schulte, A. (2024, November 13). Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Program Explained. Centuro Global. https://www.centuroglobal.com/article/saudi-arabia-vision-2030/
- State of Palestine population (2025) - Worldometer. (n.d.). https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/state-of-palestine-population/
- User. (2023, November 25). Maximum demand – Oneunit. https://oneunit.in/blogs-maximum-demand/#:
