Seth J. Frantzman
Jerusalem Post, Feb. 12, 2025
“For too long, Egypt and Jordan seemed to try to foist the Hamas and Gaza problem onto others. For instance, neither country warned Israel about the October 7 massacre, even though both of them should have picked up some hints of the Hamas plans.”
US President Donald Trump’s continued discussions about Gaza have already resulted in getting some movement in Jordan and Egypt.
For the past several weeks, he has been talking about the US taking control of Gaza and getting others to rebuild it.
Trump’s plan continues to grow every time he meets with the press. While hosting Jordan’s King Abdullah, he said America would take and hold Gaza, and “cherish” it.
Abdullah has said his country could take in 2,000 children from Gaza. He even specified how he might be able to get them to Jordan by helicopter.
Meanwhile, Egypt is also making moves in the direction of meeting some of Trump’s demands. Cairo says it will play a role in reconstruction.
Trump’s continued discussion of a Gaza plan is also raising eyebrows in other places. Iran is well aware of what this might mean, and its media outlets have highlighted claims that the US could cut aid to Egypt and Jordan if Cairo and Amman don’t begin to toe the line.
Lebanon’s new prime minister, Nawaf Salam, on Wednesday said: “Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians is reprehensible and unacceptable, and we support the two-state solution.”
The Trump plan may be affecting the ceasefire deal, Beirut-based Al-Akhbar news site reported. Trump has demanded that the hostages be returned by this coming Saturday.… Source