It all started with Jordan’s King Abdullah reaffirming his opposition to any attempts to annex land or forcibly displace Palestinians on 5th Feb. His statement followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, in which he proposed that the United States take control of Gaza after relocating Palestinians elsewhere and developing the region economically—an idea that drew widespread international criticism.
Jordan’s Dilemma:
According to a statement from the Jordanian royal court on X, “His Majesty King Abdullah II stresses the need to halt settlement expansion and rejects any efforts to annex land or displace Palestinians.”
During a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, King Abdullah reiterated Jordan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people.
The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, ideally west Asia, is once again at a critical juncture. Jordan has signaled its readiness to declare war if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proceeds with plans to ” displace Palestinians from Gaza”. This strong stance from Amman comes in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed proposal for Jordan and Egypt to accept Palestinian refugees as part of what is being called a “cleanup” of Gaza. In preparation, Jordan has reinforced its western borders, prompting Israel to establish a new eastern military division in response.
The reaction from Jordan and Egypt has been unequivocal. Both nations firmly reject the forced displacement of Palestinians, condemning it as a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to regional stability. Jordan’s King Abdullah II is expected to meet with Trump on February 11 to emphasize that such actions would serve as a catalyst for extremism, further destabilizing an already volatile region.
For Jordan, this issue transcends concerns of security and economics—it strikes at the heart of national identity. The country has a fraught history with Palestinian displacement, most notably the Black September conflict of 1970, when an influx of Palestinian refugees led to civil strife. Given Jordan’s 400-kilometer-long border with Israel, much of which stretches through difficult mountainous terrain, another large-scale influx could reignite similar tensions and push the nation into internal turmoil.
Jordanian officials fear that a mass migration of Palestinians would not only strain national resources but could also trigger a prolonged guerrilla conflict. The presence of armed groups from Syria, Iraq, and other conflict zones could exacerbate the situation, drawing the region into a scenario reminiscent of Afghanistan. If Palestinian refugees attempt to cross the border en masse, Jordan has indicated it will seal its borders. Any Israeli effort to breach them by force would be interpreted as an act of war, escalating the crisis to dangerous new levels.
Egypt opposes!
Egypt said on Friday it had been in contact with Arab partners including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to firm up the region’s rejection of any displacement of Palestinians after U.S. President Donald Trump said they should go from Gaza.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had been in communication with counterparts from 11 nations, a statement said.
Egypt has been an important U.S. ally in the region and helped broker the Gaza ceasefire with Qatar and the U.S
What Lies Ahead?
As tensions rise, several potential outcomes loom on the horizon:
- Full-scale war involving Jordan
- A diplomatic resolution that requires significant concessions from all parties.
- An escalation of chaos across the Middle East, with broader regional conflicts emerging.
With both sides reinforcing their positions and diplomatic negotiations hanging in the balance, the next steps taken by regional leaders will determine whether the Middle East inches closer to war—or finds a path to fragile peace.