(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump spoke Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday at a private meeting over the future of Gaza, where he reiterated his plan for the United States to take it over.
Trump is pressuring Jordan, Egypt and other Arab countries to take in Palestinians. Arab leaders have strongly rejected Trump’s proposal, saying any plan to transfer Palestinians to their land would destabilize the region.
Jordan already has taken in more than 2 million Palestinian refugees — making up almost half the total number of Palestinian refugees as registered or recognized by United Nations agencies.
“I believe we will have a parcel of land in Jordan … a parcel of land in Egypt,” Trump said Tuesday.
The U.N., human rights groups and some Democrats say Trump’s proposal amounts to ethnic cleansing.
Still, Trump has remained confident he can go through with it.
After a discussion of the day at the Oval Office with King Abdullah, the president addressed the press, saying the relationship with Jordan “has been very strong.” He suggested he wouldn’t withhold U.S. aid to Jordan or other Arab nations if they don’t agree to increase the number of people from Gaza they allow in — a move he previously said was a possibility.
“I don’t have to threaten that. I do believe we’re above that,” Trump said.
On the topic of taking in Palestinians, King Abdullah said they have to look at the best interests of the United States and the people of Jordan, and that he wants to make sure Egyptian officials are a part of these conversations.
“One of the things we can do right away” is to bring 2,000 children who are in a “very ill state” to Jordan as quickly as possible, Abdullah said. Trump called this “a beautiful gesture.”
Asked by a reporter how the United States will buy Gaza, Trump answered, “We’re not going to buy anything.”
“We’re going to have it, and we’re going to keep it, and we’re going to make sure there’s going to be peace and there’s not going to be any problem and nobody’s going to question it and we’re going to run it very properly,” he said.
The people of Gaza “won’t be there for years” because of all the problems, Trump said, adding that there will be “economic development” on a large scale in the area, including hotels, office buildings and housing.
A group of 11 people protested outside the White House on Tuesday before the meeting.
The king is also meeting with top Trump administration officials during his visit, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as well as a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Fragile ceasefire deal
Trump on Monday said a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas should be canceled if the latter does not release all the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza by Saturday. However, he also said such a decision would be up to Israel.
“If they’re not here, all hell is going to break out,” Trump said. He said “yes” when a reporter on Tuesday asked if Saturday was still his deadline. Later, he said Hamas must have all hostages out by Saturday or “all bets are off.”
Hamas has said it would delay the next release of three Israeli hostages set for Saturday, claiming Israel violated the ceasefire agreement by not allowing a surge of tents and shelters into Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Tuesday that the dozens of hostages would only be returned if all parties remain committed to the ceasefire. In a televised address, the leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they are ready to resume attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden if the ceasefire in Gaza halts.
After a four-hour discussion with his security Cabinet on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement he “welcomed” Trump’s demand for the release of hostages by Saturday at noon.
“In light of Hamas’ announcement of its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, I instructed the IDF last night to amass forces inside and around the Gaza Strip. This operation is currently underway and will be completed as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in the statement. “The decision I passed in the Cabinet unanimously is as follows: If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense combat until Hamas is decisively defeated.”
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
