Axios: Arab countries oppose eviction of Palestinians from Gaza

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan, as well as Palestinian presidential adviser Hussein al-Sheikh, have sent a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio opposing US President Donald Trump's plans to evict Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

According to the letter, a copy of which was reviewed by Axios, the Middle East is already "burdened with the largest number of displaced persons and refugees in the world", Caliber.Az reports.

"We must be vigilant not to increase the risk to regional stability through further displacement, even if temporary, as this increases the risk of radicalisation and unrest in the region as a whole," the communiqué urged.

The ministers emphasised that any reconstruction of the Gaza Strip must be carried out with the participation of Palestinian residents.

"Palestinians will live on their land and help rebuild it, and they should not be disenfranchised during reconstruction and should take ownership of the process with the support of the international community," they said.

In January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries, including Egypt and Jordan, suggesting a plan to "clean out" the territory. cnn.com This proposal has been met with widespread condemnation from various international actors, including Arab nations, human rights organizations, and the governments of Egypt and Jordan.

By Khagan Isayev