Abdullah dodges questions on Trump’s Gaza plan, says Arab leaders will soon present their own

King Abdullah dodges questions on Trump’s Gaza plan, says Arab leaders will soon present their own

Jacob Magid

Jordan’s King Abdullah dodges repeated questions from reporters in the Oval Office about US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza and relocate its Palestinians to neighboring countries.

In one of his responses, Trump claims there will likely be a “parcel of land” in Jordan and Egypt where the Palestinians will be housed.

Asked whether he approves of this idea, an uncomfortable-looking Abdullah responds, “I have to look at the best interests of my country.”

He notes that Trump is already satisfied with Jordan’s offer to take in 2,000 sick Gazans — though this only amounts to .1% of all the Palestinians who Trump is looking to relocate.

The king adds that the Jordanian initiative will require cooperation from COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“The best way to get [2,000 children out of Gaza] is by helicopters to get them straight to our institutions,” he says. “Quite a few countries will also probably like to take some of those kids and have them treated in their hospitals.”

Pressed again on how he feels about the US plan to own Gaza, Abdullah says that Arab leaders will be coming to the US in the near future with a plan for Gaza.

Trump then claims to largely know what the Arab plan will be. “It’s going to be… magnificent for the Palestinians. They’re going to be in love with it. I did very well with real estate. I can tell you about real estate.”

“The president is looking forward to getting a group of us Arabs here to discuss the overall plan,” Abdullah says.

He adds that Egypt is putting together a plan for Gaza on behalf of Arab countries and that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also invited Arab counterparts to discuss the matter in Riyadh.

In his opening remarks, the Jordanian king seeks to curry favor in Trump’s eyes.

“With all the challenges that we have in the Middle East, I finally see somebody [who] can take us across the finish line to bring stability, peace and prosperity to all of us in the region,” Abdullah says.