Arab foreign ministers issued a statement rejecting US President Donald Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan during a meeting of the Arab League in Cairo on February 3.

Foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, along with the Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Secretary-General of the Arab League, met in Cairo and released a joint statement outlining key agreements as Israeli Prime Minister met with Donald Trump in Washington.

The Statement reaffirmed full support for the Palestinian people's resilience and legitimate rights under international law. The officials rejected any violations of these rights, including settlement activities, forced displacement, home demolitions, land annexation, or the expulsion of Palestinians from their land.

The ministers welcomed the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas, backed by Qatar, Egypt and the US. They also pledged to work with the Trump administration toward a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, aligned with a two-state solution.

Trump first proposed relocating 1.5mn people from Gaza last month while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. He suggested Arab countries provide housing elsewhere, stating, "You're talking about almost 1.5mn people, and we’re just saying, 'You know, it's over.'"

Regarding the war’s devastation, Trump said, "It’s literally a demolition site right now. Almost everything is destroyed, and people are dying there. So, I would prefer to work with some Arab countries and build housing in a different place where they might be able to live peacefully for a change."

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi firmly rejected the idea last week, stating, "Transferring Palestinians from Gaza is absolutely unacceptable and will never be allowed." He stressed that the only solution is a two-state framework: "The solution is not removing the Palestinian people from their land. No."

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also reaffirmed his country’s strong opposition to Trump’s plan, calling it "firm and unwavering."

The Egyptian government confirmed that Sisi spoke with Trump but did not mention the relocation issue. Instead, their discussion focused on ensuring the ceasefire’s stability and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. He reaffirmed international confidence in Trump’s ability to reach a historic and durable peace agreement, urging a renewed peace process to resolve the long-standing conflict.

Jordan already hosts over two million Palestinians, according to the Associated Press. Egypt has warned of severe security risks if large numbers of refugees are moved to Sinai which borders Gaza.

Both Egypt and Jordan support the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem—territories Israel seized from them in 1967.