For Palestinians, any attempts to force them out of Gaza would evoke dark memories of what the Arab world calls the “Nakba”, or catastrophe – the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel’s creation in 1948.
Israelis in Jerusalem welcomed Trump’s proposal, though some did not believe it could be achieved.
“I really like what he said, but in my wildest dreams (I doubt) if it happens, I don’t believe it, it’s hard for me to believe it will happen, but who knows, God knows,” said Refael, a 65-year-old massage therapist.
Trump was vague on the details, but hinted it could require US boots on the ground in one of the most volatile places on earth “if necessary”.
Egypt and Jordan have rejected any resettlement from Gaza, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty calling for a swift reconstruction “without the Palestinians leaving”.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II, in a meeting with Abbas, rejected “any attempts” to take control of Palestinian territories and displace people.
