Global condemnation has surged following Donald Trump's recent suggestion that the US should assume "ownership" of Gaza, advocating for the displacement of over two million Palestinians to turn the region from “a demolition site” into a Middle Eastern “riviera.”

In Jordan and Egypt, Trump's expectation for these nations to absorb large numbers of Gazans—potentially indefinitely—has sparked serious alarm. Both King Abdullah II of Jordan and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi swiftly dismissed the notion and are now traveling to Washington, aiming to persuade Trump to reconsider.

“They fear an Israeli-led population transfer is on the verge of becoming a reality,” said Neil Quilliam, a Middle East expert at Chatham House in London.

Both leaders are acutely aware that their countries rely heavily on American economic aid and military cooperation, making them particularly vulnerable to Trump’s transactional approach to geopolitics.

Jordan has a long history of accepting Palestinian refugees, first in 1948 during the Arab-Israeli conflict and again in 1967 when Israel took control of the West Bank and Gaza. Today, more than half of Jordan's population is of Palestinian descent, with many still registered as refugees.

Katrina Sammour, an independent political analyst from Amman, noted, “This would be a repetition of a historic trauma for a people who have already endured so much. The Nakba of 1948 still lingers strongly in the Arab collective memory.”

In Jordan, the status and future of Palestinians remain highly sensitive political issues.

In 1970, Palestinian armed factions nearly overthrew King Hussein, the father of the current monarch. Though such a scenario is improbable now, the events of 55 years ago remain a cautionary tale.

Jordanian authorities have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the risks of forced Palestinian displacement since the onset of the latest conflict, as violence in the occupied West Bank has intensified and Israeli settlements continue to grow. Officials stress that any effort to push Palestinians into Jordan—an objective long favored by Israeli hardliners—would cross a “red line” and be viewed as an act of war.

“Jordanians are deeply concerned that what is happening in Gaza could ultimately lead to Israeli annexation of the West Bank,” Quilliam explained.

Jordan has also faced months of domestic protests demanding stronger action in support of Palestinians. Agreeing to Trump's plan would be widely seen as betraying the Palestinian cause. However, Jordan’s peace agreement with Israel and its close economic and military ties to the US place it in a precarious position, as American financial aid is crucial to the kingdom’s stability. Behind closed doors, Amman officials acknowledge their need for a delicate “balancing act.”

“The question of Jordanian identity is a deeply sensitive and volatile issue,” said Alia Brahimi, a specialist at the Atlantic Council. “The demographic implications are significant, but Trump is also drawing attention to King Abdullah’s relationship with Israel and his reliance on the US, both of which could create serious instability within Jordan’s monarchy.”

Practical concerns also loom. Jordan’s strained economy is struggling due to ongoing conflict, and its public services are under immense pressure. Security forces are working to contain extremist threats while support for moderate Islamist movements appears to be rising.

Sammour remarked, “A plan of this magnitude requires years of meticulous groundwork. It could trigger major security risks, and Jordan would be blamed for turning its back on Palestinians.”

Meanwhile, in Egypt, security concerns are paramount—especially regarding the Sinai desert, where some have proposed constructing large-scale refugee camps. Throughout the 16-month war, Egypt has refused to allow Gazans to flee into its territory, fearing an overwhelming and permanent migration that could destabilize the region.

Brahimi explained, “Among forcibly displaced populations, militants inevitably emerge, whether from Hamas or newly formed splinter groups representing a new generation of disaffected Palestinians. If such forces operated from Egyptian territory, this could jeopardize Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel and embolden local militants hostile to the Egyptian government.”

Egypt's economic challenges are also significant, despite extensive foreign aid from the US and other nations. “Egypt is a large country, but absorbing such a population shift would impose an enormous economic strain,” Quilliam noted. “Egypt’s economy is already struggling.”

Egyptian authorities, already dealing with domestic unrest, fear an additional crisis could reignite mass protests similar to those of 2011. Brahimi warned, “Just like King Abdullah in Jordan, al-Sisi faces a high political risk. Neither Arab leader can be seen as complicit in what many consider ethnic cleansing. Trump’s proposal has brought their worst fears to life.”

Trump, however, remains confident. Standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference, he expressed optimism that Abdullah and Sisi would eventually come around to his vision, stating that they would “open their hearts [to] give us the kind of land that we need to get this done, so people can live in peace and harmony.”