Arab ministers lobby against removing Palestinians from Gaza in letter to Rubio
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A journalist looks on as smoke billows from the site of several explosions during an Israeli raid on the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees on Feb. 2, 2025. Photo: Mohammad Mansour/AFP via Getty Images
Five Arab foreign ministers and a senior Palestinian official sent a joint letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio opposing plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza, instead demanding Palestinians be involved in the reconstruction process, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The letter is part of a joint effort by America's Arab allies to convince President Trump to abandon repeated suggestions Palestinians be relocated from Gaza to Egypt, Jordan and other countries while the reconstruction efforts takes place.
- Trump's repeated comments about moving Palestinians from Gaza alarmed many Arab countries who see that as a threat to the stability of Egypt and Jordan.
Catch up quick: U.S. officials said Trump's comments were connected to the immense destruction in Gaza and the need for a huge rebuilding effort.
- White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told Axios this process could take 10-15 years and stressed that Gaza "is uninhabitable" currently.
- Over the last week, Trump has spoken three times in public about his idea of moving Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.
- Trump spoke on Saturday with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi to discuss his idea.
Driving the news: The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan as well as Palestinian presidential adviser Hussein al-Sheikh met in Cairo over the weekend and decided to send the letter to Rubio.
- It was delivered to the State Department on Monday by the ambassadors of the five Arab countries, two sources with direct knowledge told Axios.
What they are saying: The Arab ministers stressed in the letter that the Middle East is already "burdened by the largest displaced and refugee populations in the world" and added that the economic and social situation in the region is fragile.
- "We must be vigilant not to increase the risk to regional stability by further displacement, even if only temporary as it increases the risk of radicalization and unrest in the region as a whole," they wrote to Rubio.
- They stressed that any reconstruction in Gaza needs to take place with the involvement of the Palestinian residents.
- "Palestinians will live in their land and help rebuild it and should not be stripped of their agency during reconstruction and must take ownership of the process with the support of the international community," they added.
- The Arab ministers also warned Rubio against possible deportation of Palestinians by Israel.
- "Palestinians do not want to leave their land. We support their position unequivocally. Such a move will add a new dangerous dimension to the conflict," they wrote.
The big picture: The Arab foreign ministers wrote to Rubio that their countries want to work with President Trump's "vision of peace" in the Middle East and stressed they believe Trump can do what previous presidents couldn't.
- They added that the best way to do it is through a two-state solution and stressed they are ready to create the regional conditions that will ensure the security of Israel and the Palestinians.
